Comments on: At Chiswick House

By: paul loften

paul loften — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:28:48 +0000

It is truly a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. I will keep a visit for the coming summer. I have been watching so much of the US election in these last few days that the bust of Napoleon seemed to have assumed the face of Donald Trump. I cannot imagine why.

By: Miss Kerri Sharp

Miss Kerri Sharp — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:05:59 +0000

How lovely to read someone referencing dear Denton. I spent this summer reading no one else. If he’d managed to give the rougher, more sporting boys the slip, one can clearly imagine him with a neat tartan blanket spread out, waiting to picnic with you, ready with a couple of fondant fancies. And tea? Leaf, of course, but served in elegant, plain bone china cups and saucers. As Mr Butler exclaims in Maiden Voyage: ‘Why will the Chinese, in spite of all their refinement, insist on putting yellow next to pink? Just look at those blowsy great peonies sprawling on the jaundiced side of my cup!’ The only other character I can picture saying that would be Billings, as played by Richard Wattis in ‘The Happiest Days of Your Life’.
Love the photos. Reminiscent of Eugene Atget’s deserted St Cloud. I must to Chiswick House at the earliest opportunity. There to swirl about in a dream of more elegant times. Thank you.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:01:25 +0000

One on my list to visit too. The list just gets longer….

By: Linda Whitehouse

Linda Whitehouse — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 15:59:52 +0000

I used to spend many afternoons wandering around Chiswick House gardens when I lived in Chiswick. How lovely to see the gardens again, it’s been 30 years! Thank you.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 12:39:16 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, I am glad you had an opportunity to venture to Chiswick House on a beautiful November Day before lockdown.

I knew the name rang a bell – the site was one of many historical properties I wished to visit in London some day. I refreshed my memory by checking it out of line. Chiswick House had been associated with many luminaries in British history including the Cavendish family, the Dukes of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, Charles James Fox, and Prime Minister George Canning. The latter two worthies breathed their last while guests at the estate.

Loved your black ‘n white photos of this classically designed property.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 12:12:44 +0000

It looks like a fab place – lots of interesting architecture (are the strange uprights on the roof actually chimneys?) and loads of classical features to discover in the garden.

And great photos as always – although I’m surprised you chose to use black and white in such a natural setting. One of the positive things about this lockdown are all the glorious autumnal colours in the trees and shrubs to be appreciated and enjoyed.

Lets hope the weather stays as good as it was in the first lockdown…

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 10:45:10 +0000

Nice pictures GA nice to see, but as an expat,cannot help wondering why has this place got so much neglect decay going on, on buildings, statues, paths, is that me speaking out of turn? Before this and other lock downs you where a rich and vibrant country, so no excuses then,as now. Stay safe readers, its bad out there, but not as bad as your led to believe, people need to get out and see for themselves IMHO.Thanks again GA.

By: Sandra Jones

Sandra Jones — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 10:24:57 +0000

I am lucky enough to live 10 minutes walk away from this beautiful place and go there several times a week. I am so glad that you made the journey there and were able to take these photographs. I have been going there since I was a child, so have grown to take these wonderful scenes for granted – your photographers have given me a fresh perspective.

By: Leana Pooley

Leana Pooley — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 09:51:06 +0000

We’re so lucky to live within walking distance of Chiswick House and until lockdown we would regularly take our dog there. It is an inspirational place with its elegant Palladian building and formal yew lined walks combined with a canal (where we have seen terrapins sunning themselves) and those glorious greenhouses in which a wonderful array of flowering camellias can be seen in the spring. Our dog enjoys the more informal walks of shrubs and tall trees nearer the edge of the park. There’s a good cafe but I expect it’s shut at the moment. It’s been a pleasure looking at these photographs while we’re unable to be there in person.

By: Di Corry

Di Corry — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 08:16:24 +0000

Gentle Author, you have certainly lifted my spirits this morning taking me to this beautiful place. It has been on my list of places to visit for a while now and looks like remaining there for the foreseeable future……
As always your photographs capture the essence of the scene, thank you for sharing your pre-lockdown trip with us all.