A walk through York House and Gardens: Enjoying the work of Habitats & Heritage with members of the York House Society, June 2025

As the Community Engagement Officer at Habitats & Heritage, I work closely with Friends Groups and local stakeholder groups across the boroughs we work in, supporting their initiatives and offering advice when needed. I often have the pleasure of visiting groups on site visits, and recently met with Paul Leonard, the Chairman of the York House Society for a tour of the historic York House and Gardens, in Twickenham. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the beautiful building, its rich history, and the incredible work done by the York House Society.

The York House Society was set up in 1922 by local residents and Councillors, led by resident Noel Viner-Bradley, to protect the site from development and successfully persuaded the Urban District Council to convert it into a town hall. Inside the Entrance Hall, you’ll find a bronze plaque of Viner-Bradley along with silverware donated by Society members throughout the years. Richmond Council own and maintain the house with advice and support from society members. The house remains a well-used and accessible space. Its rooms are rented out for weddings and meetings. I’m very familiar with York House as this is where Habitats & Heritage hold the quarterly Friends Forum meetings!

The House

The name York House derives from the family who owned the land between the 14^th and 17^th century: The York family. However, the house’s builder and first owner was Andrew Pitcarne, around 1640. Some of the original features of the house are still visible today, such as the grand wooden staircase and fireplace in the Entrance Hall.

Over the centuries, the house has had a number of private owners, each of whom have shaped the building into what we see today. The Duke of Orleans, grandson of the French King Louis Philippe, owned it from 1897 to 1906. He and his father added extensions to the eastern side of the house, including the Winter Garden, which is now a popular venue for marriage ceremonies. Later, the Tata family, notable industrialists from India, owned the house from 1906 to 1918 and made extensive changes to the gardens.

The rooms inside the house have been adapted as meeting rooms, but they still retain the intricate plastering and features installed during the Tata’s ownership, and their names hint at their former use. For example, the Salon Room, Terrace Room and Loggia (which was originally open to the garden but was bricked up- you can still see the outdoor columns). There was even a swimming pool, installed by the Duke of Orleans, in Clarendon Hall. Whilst it is now hidden under a stage, the pool’s marble structure is still there. This large room seats over 400 people and is often used for balls and events.

The Garden

One of the key features of the York House gardens is the ‘Royal Oak’, an oak tree planted by the King George VI in 1926, which stands proudly by the iron gates at the entrance of the house.

The garden is a mosaic of different areas, each originally tended by individual gardeners. Today, it’s mainly maintained by the Council with support from contractors.

One of the garden’s distinctive features is the Sunken Garden, created by Sir Ratan Tata, who made many changes to the gardens during his time at York House. Perhaps one of the most intriguing additions are the majestic Italian marble statues, known locally as ‘the Naked Ladies’, which represent the Oceanides, or sea nymphs, from Greek mythology. These statues have been restored over the years thanks to efforts by the York House and other local societies.

Another quirky feature in the gardens is the slightly hidden Victorian ‘pissoir’ (urinal), with its Victorian architectural features. An added attraction to the Richmond in Europe celebrations in June 2025.

As well as these historic features, new features and improvements have been installed in the gardens. In July 2021, the York House Society collaborated with charity Dose of Nature to install a Sensory Garden near the tennis courts. This space was designed to stimulate the senses- smell, touch, sight and sound- and teach people about the importance of plants on wellbeing. The York House Society also led the transformation of the riverside opposite Eel Pie Island into a reflective, accessible space, with benches engraved with poems- an ode to the artistic legacy of the island across the river.

York House remains a beautiful gem in the heart of Twickenham- rich in history and full of character, having been shaped over centuries by its various owners with differing tastes. Thanks to the dedicated work of the York House Society, the historic house continues to remain in use and open for the public to enjoy. Although the Society is not running events as of December 2024, it is evolving with the expectation to link to wider community interest groups in central Twickenham. Whether you’re exploring the tranquil gardens, attending an event, or just passing by, we encourage you to visit. Keep an eye out for guided walks that take place there as well!