Description
Petersham Common slopes steeply down to the west towards Petersham Meadows and the River Thames. Formerly land within the manor of Petersham long held by the Earls of Dysart, in 1902 the freehold of Petersham Common was transferred to Richmond Town Council, under the Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902. The 9th Earl of Dysart specified that it was to be managed by Petersham Common Conservators, and this continues to be the case. The common is now conserved woodland.
Practical Information
| Site location | Star and Garter Hill/Petersham Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | TW10 |
| What3Words | ///winner.gallons.asserts |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail/London Overground/Tube (District): Richmond then bus. Bus: 65, 371. |
| Research Updated | 1 February 2019 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The manor of Petersham dates back to the C10th. At the time of the Domesday Survey it was held by the Abbot of Chertsey, in whose possession it remained until 1415, when it was surrendered to the Crown. Thereafter it was held by a succession of lessees. Petersham Common was land belonging to the manor on the west side of Richmond Hill, and in a survey undertaken in 1609 it comprised 200 acres, the tenants having common rights of estover or wood, and of pasture for their cattle. In 1639 Petersham manor was granted to William Murray, who from c.1636 had held a lease from Queen Henrietta Maria. A friend and supporter of Charles I, Murray was created the Earl of Dysart in 1643. During the Civil War the estate land was sequestered although the Dysart family eventually regained their Ham and Petersham lands. In 1878 William Tollemache became the 9th Earl of Dysart on the death of his grandfather, the 8th Earl, Lionel Tollemache. However, the latter left the estate in trust until 1899, in a bid to protect the family fortune, William's father having died in 1872 leaving huge debts.
The Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902 was enacted in order to protect the view from Richmond Hill, and resulted in Ham Common (q.v.), Petersham Common and other meadows becoming vested in the local authorities as places of public enjoyment, also extinguishing certain commoners' rights. When the freehold of Petersham Common was transferred to Richmond Town Council in 1902, the 9th Earl specified that it should be managed by Petersham Common Conservators, which remains the case today.
The Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902 was enacted in order to protect the view from Richmond Hill, and resulted in Ham Common (q.v.), Petersham Common and other meadows becoming vested in the local authorities as places of public enjoyment, also extinguishing certain commoners' rights. When the freehold of Petersham Common was transferred to Richmond Town Council in 1902, the 9th Earl specified that it should be managed by Petersham Common Conservators, which remains the case today.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ18347361 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 7.01 |
| Site Ownership | LB Richmond |
| Site Management | Petersham Common Conservators |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Common (CL63) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Richmond |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Richmond Hill |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance (with Richmond Pk) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Thames Policy Area |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Petersham Meadows lie alongside the river and form a continuation of Buccleuch Gardens. They are an important part of the riverscape between Richmond and Teddington, and the view of Petersham Meadows has been famous for centuries, praised by Turner and Joshua Reynolds among many others. Cattle have grazed here in the summer for between 300 and 400 years but when the dairy company gave up ownership of the herd in the 1990s, the herd's presence was threatened, and the meadows themselves needed protection from development. In 2001 local residents came together to form the Petersham Trust under the chairmanship of long-distance runner Chris Brasher, founder of the London Marathon, and took on a 125-year lease from Richmond Council for an annual 'rent' of one bunch of wild flowers to be presented on 26 June, St Peter's Day. The meadows are now leased to the National Trust.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
In medieval times this was common land in the royal manor known as Hill Common, even then renowned for its views. There was a seat overlooking the view by the mid C17th and Richmond Terrace Walk was laid out c.1700. Between 1765-75 the top of the hill was developed further and in the 1770s the Terrace Walk was extended. From the early C17th there were brickworks below Terrace Walk. When they closed in 1767 part of the north-west area was taken for private gardens, but the local vestry successfully petitioned King George III to prevent development on the remainder and 3.65 hectares of grazed meadow were given as part of the royal bounty, and became known as Terrace Field. In 1902, an Act of Parliament preserved the view from Richmond Hill.
In medieval times this was common land in the royal manor known as Hill Common, even then renowned for its views. There was a seat overlooking the view by the mid C17th and Richmond Terrace Walk was laid out c.1700. Between 1765-75 the top of the hill was developed further and in the 1770s the Terrace Walk was extended. From the early C17th there were brickworks below Terrace Walk. When they closed in 1767 part of the north-west area was taken for private gardens, but the local vestry successfully petitioned King George III to prevent development on the remainder and 3.65 hectares of grazed meadow were given as part of the royal bounty, and became known as Terrace Field. In 1902, an Act of Parliament preserved the view from Richmond Hill.
St Peter's Church has a picturesque setting from where footpaths lead across farmland to Petersham Meadows. The walled churchyard has some fine trees and numerous gravestones and chest-tombs including that of Lord Buccleuch and the simple tomb of Captain George Vancouver (d.1798) of the Royal Navy, an explorer who discovered the island off the west coast of Canada that is named after him. Others buried here include Revd. Albert Henry Scott, (d.1864), whose carved granite tomb was designed by his father the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott who lived at the Manor House in Ham. The entrance to the churchyard has a metal arch with lamp erected in 1997 in memory of Murray and Clare Vines, from where a herringbone brick path leads to the church.