A Teddington & Strawberry Hill Walk
Route & what to see
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london-footprints.co.uk |
A 7 mile circular walk from Strawberry Hill Station (National Rail). A 5 mile route around the Teddington section (from Teddington Station) is also available [click here].
From the station go along
Tower Road then right at Waldegrave Gardens. At the end of the
road is a view of Strawberry Hill.
Horace Walpole transformed a small villa into a Gothic castle
adding a long gallery and two towers, along with replica
furniture and fittings. It was inherited by Countess Waldegrave
who made more additions and ensured the railway served the
property. The house was sold after her death in 1879 and since
1923 has been part of St Mary's University College. A major
restoration was completed in 2014.
Go right (southwards) along
Waldegrave Road. Left at Teddington Park Road then bear right
into Cambridge Road. Left around the Grove.
There is a charming small park on the left.
At the end take the footpath
on the right back to Cambridge Road and go left. First left into
Manor Road then continue around Twickenham Road.
Near the end are some houses in the Voysey style.
Go into the churchyard
opposite.
St Mary's Church has parts from the 16th century. The north aisle
and tower were added in 1753. Across Ferry Lane is St Alban the
Martyr in French Gothic style by W Niven. It was built 1887-9 but
never completed and has now been restored for the Landmark Arts
Centre.
Go along the High Street.
On the right are cottages of 1759. Neighbouring Oak Cottage may
be the oldest house in Teddington. Beyond this are houses of the
1860s. The present King's Head is Victorian but there was a pub
of this name mentioned in manor records of 1689 along with the
Royal Oak opposite (rebuilt in the 1930s). Other premises on the
north side of the High Street date back to the 17th & 18th
century with shops added to the fronts. The Kings Arms was formed
from three cottages and was first mentioned as a beerhouse in
1861. Old houses behind numbers 49 - 59 were built as Grove
Villas c1830.
Left at Field Lane, right at
Gomer Gardens. Right at Blackmore's Grove.
The author RD Blackmore owned a market garden in this area. His
house (Gomer House) stood on the site of Doone Close.
Cross Bridgman Road into
Cedar Road. Left at the High Street.
The house on the corner of Vicarage Road was the parsonage house,
built in 1837 and sold in 1881. Elmfield House of 1730 was
purchased by Teddington UDC in 1895. Behind this was (until 1920)
Barclay's Wax Factory.
Detour into Waldegrave Road
to view the library.
This elegant building, funded by Andrew Carnegie was built in
1906.
Return and bear right going
into Park Road beyond the roundabout.
This has a number of 18th century properties.
Left at Adelaide Road, continuing along Victoria Road beyond the station. Left around Clarence Road.
At the end go right along
Park Road. Enter Bushy Park at Teddington Gate.
The Chestnut Avenue was planted in 1699 and the lodge was rebuilt
in 1827.
Take the path to the left
parallel with Sandy Lane.
The area to the right was used by the US 8th Army Air Force from
1942 (demolished 1962). It was also the site of Camp Griffiss,
General Eisenhower's base for D-Day preparations. A new gate to
commemorate this was made in 1994.
Exit at the Sandy Lane Gate
and go along Bushy Park Road opposite, crossing the railway.
Right at Fairfax Road then right at Kingston Road. Left along
Normansfield Avenue.
There is a partial view of the old hospital building (best
seen from across the road).
Further along, opposite the
school, is an entrance to the grounds. Please
ensure you stay on the permissive path as the grounds are private
property.
The Normansfield Hospital was founded in 1868 by Dr J H
Langdon-Down as a home for children with Down's Syndrome. A
building designed by Rowland Plumbe which included a theatre was
added in 1877. This is now home to the Langdon Down Centre Trust
[website]
At the T-junction, just past
the children's playground, go right. Exit into Broom Road and go
left.
Beyond a conference centre and sports grounds are Teddington
Studios. There are a number of (unofficial) blue plaques here.
At the end go right along
Ferry Road.
Tide End Cottages and the pub were built in the 1820s.
Go on to the footbridge.
This is the limit of the tidal Thames. Teddington Lock was opened
in 1811 to improve navigation and the footbridge constructed in
1888.
Return and go around the
chandlers then northwards along the riverside path. Go left
through the park. Exit into Manor Road and go right continuing
along Twickenham Road then Strawberry Vale. At the roundabout
walk through Radnor Gardens.
These were the grounds of Radnor House and Crossdeep House,
neither of which survive. They have been council property since
1902 but the summerhouse and gazebo of Radnor were allowed to
become dilapidated and vandalised. The Friends organisation
launched a restoration project in 1988 and additional Lottery
funding has enabled other improvements to be carried out.
Exit onto Cross Deep and
continue to the crossing. Cross then go along Pope's Grove.
Alexander Pope built a riverside villa and grotto in the
area.
Left at Radnor Road then right at Tower Road to return to the station.
london-footprints.co.uk 2015