Description
St Philip and St James Church was built in 1862 on land that was formerly part of the Whitton Park Estate, which was developed by the Duke of Argyll from 1722-61. He enlarged his estate and raised most of the trees in his park from seed, some of which remain in the former parkland, now built over by suburban housing. These are likely to include the fine trees in the grounds around the church. The Whitton Park estate was owned by the Gostling family from 1766-1892, who were closely involved in the village, playing a part in setting up the new parish and donating land for the church. The church grounds are largely grass with a few fine trees, including monkey puzzle, with holly and hawthorn hedge to roads.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Whitton Park Estate |
|---|---|
| Site location | Kneller Road/Hounslow Road, Whitton |
| Postcode | TW2 7DY |
| What3Words | ///noted.melt.goods |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Hounslow/Whitton. Bus: 281, H22, R62 |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2004 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site for the church was donated by Maria Gostling who also provided the church tower in memory of her brother, Augustus Gostling. From 1859 the husband of Maria's niece Emily, Charles Edward Murray who later took the surname Gostling-Murray, was effectively head of the family and he played an active role in the life of the village of Whitton. In 1860 he was part of a committee set up by the Vicar of Twickenham to provide a new church in order that Whitton could become a separate parish. St Philip and St James was designed by F W Pownall, the first stone laid on 17 July 1861 by Charles Gostling-Murray's 7 year-old son, Augustus. The church clock was installed in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. In 1895 Gostling-Murray's second wife Margaret erected the reredos in the church in memory of her husband, following his death in 1892.
Enclosed in 1625-33 the Whitton Park estate was acquired by the Duke of Argyll in 1722, who eventually owned over 22 hectares of land in Whitton. The Duke raised most of the trees in the park from seed planted in 1724 and some of the trees still found in the area date from that time or are descendants of trees grown on the estate. These are likely to include the fine trees in the grounds around the church. After the Duke's death in 1761 the estate passed to his mistress, Mrs Elizabeth Williams and then after her death to their illegitimate son Colonel William Williams who sold the estate to William Pope in 1765. In the following year it was bought by George Gostling, a successful ecclesiastical lawyer who converted the Green House into a separate residence for his family of 19 children. His estate became known as Whitton Place, and retained the most attractive areas of the grounds. Gostling sold the Duke's mansion, which retained the name Whitton Park, to Sir William Chambers (1723-96). Both George Gostling (d.1782) and his wife Anne (d.1799) were buried at St Mary's Churchyard Twickenham (q.v.).
After the death of Sir William Chambers in 1796, Whitton Park was purchased by a Mrs Dennis, upon whose death it was re-purchased by the Gostling family and eventually let to Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, who lived there until his death in 1831; his eldest son John Cam Hobhouse, later Lord Broughton, was a great friend of Lord Byron who is known to have visited Whitton Park. After Whitton Park reverted to the Gostling family in 1847, the house was demolished. The Gostling family retained the estate until 1892 when the land was put up for sale and sold by auction in 1894 after which part was developed. The central grounds around the house were sold on a number of times from 1895 and Whitton Place itself became derelict and the estate neglected. In 1910 most of the land was bought for housing development, aside from that purchased by Twickenham Urban District Council for Murray Park (q.v.).
Enclosed in 1625-33 the Whitton Park estate was acquired by the Duke of Argyll in 1722, who eventually owned over 22 hectares of land in Whitton. The Duke raised most of the trees in the park from seed planted in 1724 and some of the trees still found in the area date from that time or are descendants of trees grown on the estate. These are likely to include the fine trees in the grounds around the church. After the Duke's death in 1761 the estate passed to his mistress, Mrs Elizabeth Williams and then after her death to their illegitimate son Colonel William Williams who sold the estate to William Pope in 1765. In the following year it was bought by George Gostling, a successful ecclesiastical lawyer who converted the Green House into a separate residence for his family of 19 children. His estate became known as Whitton Place, and retained the most attractive areas of the grounds. Gostling sold the Duke's mansion, which retained the name Whitton Park, to Sir William Chambers (1723-96). Both George Gostling (d.1782) and his wife Anne (d.1799) were buried at St Mary's Churchyard Twickenham (q.v.).
After the death of Sir William Chambers in 1796, Whitton Park was purchased by a Mrs Dennis, upon whose death it was re-purchased by the Gostling family and eventually let to Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, who lived there until his death in 1831; his eldest son John Cam Hobhouse, later Lord Broughton, was a great friend of Lord Byron who is known to have visited Whitton Park. After Whitton Park reverted to the Gostling family in 1847, the house was demolished. The Gostling family retained the estate until 1892 when the land was put up for sale and sold by auction in 1894 after which part was developed. The central grounds around the house were sold on a number of times from 1895 and Whitton Place itself became derelict and the estate neglected. In 1910 most of the land was bought for housing development, aside from that purchased by Twickenham Urban District Council for Murray Park (q.v.).
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ140742 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Diocese of London |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | 1862 |
| 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 | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Yes? |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Open Land of Townscape Importance |
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
Originally part of the Whitton Park estate in Middlesex that at one time comprised 200 acres, Murray Park is named after Colonel Gostling Murray, whose family owned the estate from 1766-1892. Archibald Campbell, Lord Islay and later 3rd Duke of Argyll, first began acquiring the land from 1722 in the creation of his country seat in England. Known as ‘the treemonger of Whitton' his famed garden featured rare and exotic trees, many of which were cultivated here. In 1738, Campbell created a separate estate on the site of today's Murray Park for his mistress, Mrs Elizabeth Ann Williams. On his death in 1761 the entire estate at Whitton went to Mrs Williams and then to their illegitimate son, William, who divided and sold it in 1766. In 1796/7 the estate was re-united by George Gostling, who invited Humphry Repton to advise on the landscape design. What had by then become known as the Whitton Park Estate survived until 1894 when it was eventually sold for housing. Following efforts to save some open space, Twickenham UDC purchased 10 acres of Mrs Williams' former estate in the creation of Murray Park, which opened on 1 May 1914.
Kneller Gardens are named after German-born portrait painter Sir Godfrey Kneller, who was appointed Court Painter in 1680, knighted in 1691, later made a baronet in 1715. By then he had built his villa, Whitton House, on a site to the north-west of Kneller Gardens. The house was replaced by Kneller Hall in 1848, which until 2021 was the Royal Military School of Music, the site now awaiting development. Maps of 1915 show the site of Kneller Gardens as a bathing place surrounded by farmland; in 1930 Twickenham Borough Council developed 12 acres here as a new recreation ground for Whitton's growing population. The park was officially opened in 1931 providing sports pitches and pavilions, a children's play area, and riverside walk with new trees and shrubs planted.
Twickenham Cemetery was once surrounded by fields and orchards. It was established by Twickenham Burial Board in 1868, originally on a site of c.3.23 hectares (8 acres) but since enlarged. It retains its pair of gothic chapels and ornamental entrance gates and although the monuments are generally quite modest, there is a charming garden commemorating the private graves of Variety Artistes. The cemetery is hedged to Percy Road and contains a number of mature trees, including conifers and monkey puzzle, numerous flat-topped yews and many of more recent planting.