Gunnersbury Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gunnersbury Park |
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 The Large Mansion at Gunnersbury |
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| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | W |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
Gunnersbury Park is a large park in West London, England. It is located between the areas of Acton, Brentford, Chiswick, and Ealing.
This beautiful park was once owned by the wealthy Rothschild family. It was bought for the public and opened on May 21, 1926. Neville Chamberlain, who was a government minister at the time, officially opened it.
Today, Gunnersbury Park is looked after by two local councils: Hounslow and Ealing. The park got a big makeover, costing millions of pounds, which finished in 2018. This project was helped by money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The park and its gardens are so special that they are listed as a Grade II historic site.
In the late 1800s, when Leopold de Rothschild owned the park, he added many new features. He created a special type of woodland garden with plants from Asia. Other parts of the park included a formal "Italian Garden" and colorful flowerbeds. There was also an orangery (a type of greenhouse), a rock garden, and one of the first "Japanese gardens in England. You can still see all these features today, though they might not be as perfectly kept as they were a century ago.
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History of Gunnersbury Park
How Gunnersbury Got Its Name
The name Gunnersbury comes from a woman named Gunylda. She was the niece of King Canute, a famous Viking king of England. Gunylda lived here until she was sent away from England in 1044.
Later, in the 1400s, the Frowyk family lived on the land. Sir Thomas Frowyk, a very important judge, was born here in 1460.
Early Houses and Owners
In the mid-1600s, Sir John Maynard bought Gunnersbury. He was a lawyer and politician during the time of Oliver Cromwell. Around 1663, he built a grand house called Gunnersbury House. It was designed by John Webb, who learned from the famous architect Inigo Jones. The house was built in the Palladian style, which was popular for its balanced and grand look.
A map from 1777 shows the house near a horseshoe-shaped lake. In 1739, a wealthy merchant named Henry Furnese bought the house. After he died in 1756, it was sold to Princess Amelia.
The writer Daniel Defoe visited Gunnersbury in 1742. He wrote that from the house, you could see a beautiful view of the countryside, the River Thames, and even London on a clear day.
Princess Amelia's Influence
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In 1760, Princess Amelia, the daughter of King George II, bought the house and estate. She was a favorite of her father. Princess Amelia used Gunnersbury House as her country home for the summer.
She was known for her lively parties and political discussions held at Gunnersbury. The previous owner had already started landscaping the grounds in the 18th-century English landscape style. Princess Amelia continued this work. She even added a bathhouse in the park.
Changes in the 1800s
After Princess Amelia passed away in 1786, the estate had several different owners. In 1801, a man named John Morley decided to pull down the old mansion. He then sold the land in many smaller pieces.
However, most of the land was bought by just two people. Alexander Copland bought a large part, and Stephen Cosser bought another. This led to the creation of two separate estates, each with its own new house.
Copland built a large house called the "Large Mansion." This estate became known as "Gunnersbury Park." Another house, the "Small Mansion," was built nearby. This estate was called "Gunnersbury House."
The Rothschild Family Era
In 1835, a very rich banker named Nathan Mayer Rothschild bought the Large Mansion and its park. Later, in 1889, the Rothschilds also bought the Small Mansion and its grounds. This finally brought the original estate back together under one owner.
The Rothschild family made Gunnersbury even bigger. They added more land to the west and north. An old clay pit in the park was turned into a beautiful lake called the Potomac. They also built an orangery in 1836, designed by Sydney Smirke.
Gunnersbury Park in the 1900s
In 1925, after Leopold de Rothschild died, his wife and son sold the Gunnersbury estate. It was about 200 acres (81 hectares) in size. Two local councils, Ealing and Acton, bought the park for £130,000.
At the time, there was a big need for land to build houses. However, the councils decided that Gunnersbury should be used only for fun and relaxation. They wanted to keep it as a park for everyone.
When Neville Chamberlain opened the park on March 21, 1926, he was very happy. He said it was wonderful that people now owned such a "magnificent and historical park." He also mentioned how important it was to have green spaces in towns and cities.
In 1929, the Large Mansion was turned into the Gunnersbury Park Museum. It showed local history, old costumes, and art. The park later became part of the London Borough of Hounslow in 1965.
Gunnersbury Park Today
A huge restoration project, costing £50 million, was finished in June 2018. The Large Mansion was reopened after this work. The project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ealing Council, Hounslow Council, and English Heritage. An outdoor sports area was also planned to open in 2020.
Gallery
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The small mansion with the large mansion in the background to the left
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The 18th-century temple
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The boathouse on the Potomac
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The Orangery from the Horseshoe Pond after restoration
