Description
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.
Practical Information
| Site location | Petersham Road, Richmond |
|---|---|
| Postcode | TW10 7AG |
| What3Words | ///unit.town.recent |
| 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 |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
On the signing of the lease on 30 October 2001 Mr Brasher presented the first bunch of flowers to Eleanor Stanier, Mayor of Richmond. The Trust launched an appeal to raise £500,000 and planned to seek £150,000 lottery funding to restore the cowshed and other buildings on the meadows, improve access and provide long-term funding for the herd, at that time 27 Friesian crosses and Charolais, and a herdsman. Now leased to the National Trust, there is anxiety about the proposal to erect an electric fence, as a result of an incident in 2011 between a dog and a cow.
Across the towpath adjacent to the meadows is a small area of woodland, Petersham Lodge Woods, managed by LB Richmond for nature conservation.
Across the towpath adjacent to the meadows is a small area of woodland, Petersham Lodge Woods, managed by LB Richmond for nature conservation.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ180737 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 9.5 |
| Site Ownership | LB Richmond, leased to the National Trust |
| Site Management | National Trust |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Richmond |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Richmond Hill |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Thames Policy Area |
Gallery
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 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.
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.
* 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.