Description
Radnor Gardens are named after one of the many substantial C18th properties that lined the riverside, although the gardens of both Radnor House and Cross Deep House were once on the site. Before the river was embanked part of the site encompassed two aits or small islands, and in 1903 Cross Deep Ait became a public pleasure garden. Radnor House was destroyed in WWII and its gardens became part of the public park. In 1968 the intervening channel was filled in. In the gardens are a rococo seat/shelter from Cross Deep House and a small gazebo, both restored with support from the MPGA and others. A war memorial with bronze statue of a soldier is in the south of the park near the bowling green.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Radnor House |
|---|---|
| Site location | Cross Deep, Twickenham |
| Postcode | TW1 |
| What3Words | ///thin.hatch.armed |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | Mon - Sat: 7.30am - dusk/Sun & Bank Hols: 9am - dusk |
| Facilities | Playground, cafe/kiosk, bowling green, fishing permitted |
| Events | Annual Music Day and Fair |
| Public Transport | Rail: Strawberry Hill. Bus: R68, 33 |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2014 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Radnor Gardens was laid out on the former gardens of Radnor House and Cross Deep House, which were among the many substantial C18th houses that lined the riverside. The residential area of Strawberry Hill was renowned for its men of letters and the arts, and in the mid C18th the 4th Earl of Radnor's neighbours were Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill (q.v.) and Alexander Pope, a remnant of whose property remains as Pope's Grotto (q.v.). Before the river was embanked part of the site encompassed two aits or small islands, where Walpole reputedly grazed his cattle. One of these islands, Cross Deep Ait, was opened as a public pleasure garden in 1903, its ground level having been raised using earth from the construction of Teddington Lock.
In September 1940 Radnor House was destroyed in World War II bombing and after the war its gardens became part of the public gardens. In 1968 the channel of the Cross Deep Stream that separated the two areas was filled in to create today's riverside park. An octagonal Gothic summerhouse remains in the gardens formerly in the grounds of Cross Deep House and possibly inspired by its neighbour Strawberry Hill. Also in the gardens is the remains of an C18th cold bath, relocated from its original position. Both were restored in the early C21st with support from the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association and others.
The gardens have a number of notable trees, which included at one time a rare Indian Bean Tree (Northern Catalpa/Catalpa speciosa) and its Weeping Willows along the river frontage are believed to be among the first planted. A war memorial with a bronze statue of a soldier on a stone plinth is sited towards the south of the park near the river. Near the roadside boundary a raised rose garden was created on the former site of Radnor House, bounded by the remains of the old wall of the house, which has a plaque marking 'a Remarkable High Flood' in 1771. Near the rose garden are further areas of landscaping, including rockery and planted beds and at the roadside is a viewing platform.
The Bowling Pavilion opened on 23 April 1955 and was erected by the family of Leonard Denny, 'honorary freeman of the borough of Twickenham and President of Middlesex County Bowling Association and Vice President of Strawberry Hill Bowling Club'. As part of a programme of improvements both the bowling pavilion and a 1960s café kiosk have now been renovated, the latter re-opening in 2009, and a new children's playground was provided in 2006.
In September 1940 Radnor House was destroyed in World War II bombing and after the war its gardens became part of the public gardens. In 1968 the channel of the Cross Deep Stream that separated the two areas was filled in to create today's riverside park. An octagonal Gothic summerhouse remains in the gardens formerly in the grounds of Cross Deep House and possibly inspired by its neighbour Strawberry Hill. Also in the gardens is the remains of an C18th cold bath, relocated from its original position. Both were restored in the early C21st with support from the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association and others.
The gardens have a number of notable trees, which included at one time a rare Indian Bean Tree (Northern Catalpa/Catalpa speciosa) and its Weeping Willows along the river frontage are believed to be among the first planted. A war memorial with a bronze statue of a soldier on a stone plinth is sited towards the south of the park near the river. Near the roadside boundary a raised rose garden was created on the former site of Radnor House, bounded by the remains of the old wall of the house, which has a plaque marking 'a Remarkable High Flood' in 1771. Near the rose garden are further areas of landscaping, including rockery and planted beds and at the roadside is a viewing platform.
The Bowling Pavilion opened on 23 April 1955 and was erected by the family of Leonard Denny, 'honorary freeman of the borough of Twickenham and President of Middlesex County Bowling Association and Vice President of Strawberry Hill Bowling Club'. As part of a programme of improvements both the bowling pavilion and a 1960s café kiosk have now been renovated, the latter re-opening in 2009, and a new children's playground was provided in 2006.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ160725 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.89 |
| Site Ownership | LB Richmond |
| Site Management | Environment Planning & Review, Parks and Open Spaces. Friends of Radnor Gardens |
| Dates | 1720; 1903; 1968 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Summerhouse |
| 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 | Twickenham Riverside |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| 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
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
In 1719 poet and satirist Alexander Pope took a lease on 2 or 3 cottages at Cross Deep, built a new villa here and developed classically-styled gardens until his death in 1744. Pope's Villa was demolished in 1808 and his gardens have now gone, altered and built over in the C19th and C20th. All that remains is the grotto-tunnel he built in c.1722 to link the villa with the gardens, albeit much barer than in Pope’s time and longer due to early C20th road widening. In 1740-43 he had extended the grotto-tunnel with flanking caves and ‘rough stonework and encrustations of shells, minerals, coral and stalactites, intended to epitomise the subterranean riches of the world’, using supplies sent from Cornwall and elsewhere by friends. The grotto was a visitor attraction after his death. Sir William Stanhope later owned the villa until 1772, making alterations to house and garden. The current house on the site was a convent, then a school, now owned by Radnor House School.
In 1719 poet and satirist Alexander Pope took a lease on 2 or 3 cottages at Cross Deep, built a new villa here and developed classically-styled gardens until his death in 1744. Pope's Villa was demolished in 1808 and his gardens have now gone, altered and built over in the C19th and C20th. All that remains is the grotto-tunnel he built in c.1722 to link the villa with the gardens, albeit much barer than in Pope’s time and longer due to early C20th road widening. In 1740-43 he had extended the grotto-tunnel with flanking caves and ‘rough stonework and encrustations of shells, minerals, coral and stalactites, intended to epitomise the subterranean riches of the world’, using supplies sent from Cornwall and elsewhere by friends. The grotto was a visitor attraction after his death. Sir William Stanhope later owned the villa until 1772, making alterations to house and garden. The current house on the site was a convent, then a school, now owned by Radnor House School.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
In 1747 Horace Walpole leased then purchased a late C17th house in Twickenham and between 1749 and 1776 he created Strawberry Hill, extending the house into what has been called a cross between a medieval castle and an abbey. He purchased further land over the years, including meadows to the east and south, and his grounds eventually ran down to the river. Although land has been lost to housing and the view lost to woodland the grassed areas and the layout of his tree planting survive.
In 1747 Horace Walpole leased then purchased a late C17th house in Twickenham and between 1749 and 1776 he created Strawberry Hill, extending the house into what has been called a cross between a medieval castle and an abbey. He purchased further land over the years, including meadows to the east and south, and his grounds eventually ran down to the river. Although land has been lost to housing and the view lost to woodland the grassed areas and the layout of his tree planting survive.
The Art Deco Thames Eyot flats were built in 1935 on the site of Poulett Lodge, an C18th mansion that replaced an earlier house of c.1701 that burnt down in 1734. It is named after the 3rd Earl Poulett who inherited the property in 1774. From the early C18th there were fine riverside gardens here. By 1842 the estate included parkland on the west side of Cross Deep that became a nursery in the late C19th, but was developed in 1926 as a crescent of private houses. Poulett Lodge was demolished in 1933 when the Thames Eyot flats were built but the former coach house and stables survive. The main ornamental feature is the riverside lawn with its 160m river frontage and long stone balustrade, at the south end of which is a possibly C18th stone loggia, at the west end of which a small square grotto with a barrel vaulted roof decorated with shell work and blue slag. At the north end is a C19th boathouse, with wet dock.