Radnor Gardens, Cross Deep, Twickenham
Radnor Gardens on the riverside at Strawberry Hill, near Twickenham were formerly the grounds of Radnor House and the original Crossdeep House, neither of which survive. They became Council property in 1902 and have been freely open to the public ever since.
The historic importance of these gardens dates from mid-18th century when John Robartes of Twickenham, who became the 4th and last Earl of Radnor in 1741, had as his neighbours Horace Walpole, who built Strawberry Hill House, and Alexander Pope of Pope’s Villa.
Restoration
The summerhouse and gazebo, graceful features of Radnor Gardens, date
from that period and are important examples of garden architecture of
the day. However, they were not properly cared for and weather, war and
the passage of time eventually took their toll. By the 1980s both were
dilapidated, vandalised and overgrown with shrubbery.
In 1988 local residents founded The Friends of Radnor Gardens (becoming
a registered local charity in 1993) and launched a fundraising appeal,
which successfully met the cost of restoring the summerhouse and the gazebo
and which they undertook in co-operation with the Borough Council.
Events
A celebration band concert by the Royal Military School of Music was held
the following year when restoration of the summerhouse was completed and
again, in 1991, to mark the completion of the restored gazebo.
Almost every year since then the Friends have held a Music Day and Crafts
Fair for the enjoyment of local residents and the proceeds have been put
towards further repairs and improvements in the gardens, in 2000 launching
an appeal for £100,000.
Development
The Friends’ plans for the future of Radnor Gardens were included
in the Thames Landscape Strategy “Arcadia in the City” appeal
to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which was successful. This will meet a substantial
part of the cost, but match funding has to be found.
2005 saw the start of these improvements, which will be phased in over
the next few years.
Key features in the first phase of Arcadia work were the resurfacing and
re-alignment of the pathway from the Northern gate down to and along the
river bank.
At the same time the Council, in co-operation with the Friends, has undertaken
the restoration of the children’s play area, with a dog-free enclosure
and the installation of play equipment which local residents helped to
choose.