Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915) – [Local History Notes: 21]
One of the most popular and prolific novelists of her day and the virtual founder of a new school of ‘sensational’ fiction, Miss Mary Elizabeth Braddon was born at Frith…
Charles Dickens and Richmond – [Local History Notes: 20]
Estella in Great Expectations (1861) states: ‘Our lesson is that there are two Richmonds, one in Surrey and one in Yorkshire, and that mine is the Surrey Richmond.' As early…
R D Blackmore (1825-1900) – [Local History Notes: 19]
R D Blackmore Richard Doddridge Blackmore was born on 7 June 1825 in Longworth, Berkshire, where his father, John Blackmore, was Curate-in-charge of the parish. Only a few months after…
Horace Walpole (1717-1797) and Strawberry Hill – [Local History Notes: 18]
Some talk of Gunnersbury, For Sion some declare; And some say, that with Chiswick House No villa can compare; But all the beaux of Middlesex, Who know the country well,…
James Thomson (1700-1748) – [Local History Notes: 17]
The poet of The Seasons was born in Ednam in Roxburghshire, Scotland, the son of Thomas Thomson, a preacher. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Southdean where James…
Alexander Pope (1688-1744) – [Local History Notes: 16]
Samuel Johnson’s Lives of the English Poets records a statement, attributed to Lady Bolingbroke, to the effect that Pope could 'hardly drink tea without a stratagem'. Pope’s career was, indeed,…
Hogarth House, Richmond – [Local History Notes: 13]
Abraham Cropp, a man of considerable wealth, died at his home in Paradise Row in 1744 (1). He owned two adjoining houses, a coach house and stables. His widow, Susanna…
Bushy House and the National Physical Laboratory – [Local History Notes: 12]
The early history of Bushy House is obscure as there were several lodges in Bushy Park with no particular names. Bushy Park, at the time of Charles I, was divided…
Richmond Palace – [Local History Notes: 11]
Henry VII built Richmond Palace on the site of the former Palace of Shene which was severely damaged by fire when the king and his court were there for Christmas…
Marble Hill House, Twickenham – [Local History Notes: 10]
Henrietta Howard (), for whom Marble Hill House was built, was described by her friend Horace Walpole as: "of a just hight, well made, extremely fair, with the finest light…