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Syon Park
The House
Described by John Betjeman as 'The Grand Architectural Walk', Syon House and its 200 acre park is the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family has owned it for 400 years. Originally the site of a medieval abbey, it was recently excavated by 'Time Team' and Birkbeck College.
The abbey was dedicated to the Bridgettine Order, founded in the 14th century by the great Swedish mystic St Bridget. One of the last great abbeys to be built (completed in 1431), Syon was brutally dissolved by King Henry the Eighth in 1539 and remodelled as a house in 1547.
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The Great Hall
(Wedding ceremony) |
The Main House
The House has had a truly colourful history; in 1547 King Henry the Eighth's coffin was brought to Syon on its way to Windsor for burial.
It burst open during the night and in the morning dogs were found licking up the remains. This was regarded as a divine judgement for the
King's desecration of Syon Abbey. It was also at Syon that Henry the Eighth's great niece, Lady Jane Grey, reluctantly accepted the crown.
Other royal visitors have included Queens Catherine of Aragon and Catherine Howard, the Stuart monarchs, Queen Victoria and the present Royal Family.
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State Dining Room
(Signing the register) |
In 1761, Robert Adam created some of his finest some of his finest interiors at Syon for the First Duke of Northumberland.
It was remodelled in the grand neo-classical style, in which the Duke and Duchess entertained on a lavish scale. |
The Gardens
The gardens at Syon have been renowned for their extensive collection of rare trees and plants since 'Capability' Brown landscaped the park in the mid 18th century. It is registered as a Grade 1 landscape in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Importance in England.
The Conservatory
The Great Conservatory in the gardens was the first conservatory to be built from metal and glass on a large
scale.
The Conservatory
(Wedding Breakfast & Dancing)
The 3rd Duke of Northumberland commissioned Charles Fowler to build a new conservatory in 1826,
the first of its kind to be built out of gunmetal, Bath stone and glass.
It was originally designed to act as a show house for the Duke's exotic plants and inspired
Joseph Paxton in his designs for the Crystal Palace.
Filming
 Syon Park has featured in films such as The
Madness of King George, Emma, The Avengers, The Golden Bowl, The Wings of a Dove
and TV dramas, Wives and Daughters, Love in a Cold Climate, The People’s Duchess
and The Antiques Roadshow.
Soon to be featured in the wedding of Tessa Kottler to
Jason Capra !
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