Syon House facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Syon House
Syon House in 2018
Type	Mansion
Location	Syon Park
OS grid reference	TQ 17282 76685
Area	London Borough of Hounslow
Built	1547–52
Rebuilt	1762-69
Architect	Robert Adam
Owner	Duke of Northumberland

Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Syon House
Designated	15 Jun 1951
Reference no.	1080318


National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
Official name: Syon Park
Designated	1 October 1987
Reference no.	1000148

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Syon House is a grand home located in west London. It is the home of the Duke of Northumberland and his family. This historic building is found within the large, beautiful Syon Park, which covers 200 acres (about 80 football fields).

The house is in the London Borough of Hounslow. Its amazing inside was designed by a famous architect named Robert Adam in the 1760s.

A Look Back at Syon House
Syon House Architecture
- Adam's Unique Style
- Inside the House
Exploring Syon Park
Filming Location
Gallery
See also

A Look Back at Syon House

Syon House before it was changed in the 1760s

An artistic view of Syon House and the River Thames between 1700 and 1750

From Monastery to Mansion

Syon House gets its name from Syon Abbey. This was a medieval monastery, a place where monks and nuns lived and prayed. It was founded in 1415 by King Henry V. The abbey moved to the spot where Syon House now stands in 1431. It became one of the richest nunneries in England.

In 1539, the abbey was closed down by King Henry VIII. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The nuns had to leave their home.

Royal Connections

After the abbey closed, Syon became the property of the King. It was then leased to the 1st Duke of Somerset. He had the site rebuilt into Syon House in the Italian Renaissance style.

King Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was held at Syon House in 1541 and 1542. After King Henry VIII died, his coffin rested at Syon House for one night. This was before it continued its journey to his burial place.

Lady Jane Grey received important news at Syon House on July 9, 1553. She was told that she would be the next Queen of England. She was living nearby at her parents' house. A group of important people met her at Syon House to share this news.

In 1594, Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, bought Syon. It has stayed in his family ever since.

Scientific Discoveries at Syon

A plaque for Thomas Harriot in the grounds of Syon House

In 1609, a scientist named Thomas Harriot was working at Syon. He used a new invention, the telescope, to draw the moon. He did this on June 26, several months before Galileo made his own observations. There is a plaque in the grounds of Syon House to remember Harriot.

A Royal Guest

In the late 1600s, Syon was owned by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset. Princess Anne, who later became Queen Anne, lived at Syon in 1692. She had a disagreement with her sister, Queen Mary II. Queen Mary asked Anne to leave her royal homes. So, Princess Anne came to live with her friends, the Somersets, at Syon.

Modern Changes and Openings

In the 1700s, Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, hired famous designers. He asked architect Robert Adam and landscape designer Lancelot "Capability" Brown to redesign the house and its grounds. Work on the inside of the house began in 1762. Five large rooms were finished by 1769.

In 1951, Syon House opened to the public for the first time. This was thanks to Hugh Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland, and his wife Elizabeth. Later, in 1995, the family's private rooms also became open for visitors. The Percy family still lives there and continues to improve the house.

Recent work in 2007 and 2008 helped restore parts of the roof and the Great Hall. There is also a long-term project to restore the beautiful Adam Rooms.

Syon House Architecture

A design for a gateway and porters' lodges at Syon House by Robert Adam, around 1769

The grand Neoclassical interior designed by Adam

Adam's Unique Style

The outside of Syon House was built in 1547. But the amazing inside you see today was designed by Robert Adam starting in 1762. He was hired by the 1st Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.

Adam's famous "Adam style" is said to have started right here at Syon House. He designed it in the Neo-classical style. This style was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings. But Adam also added his own mix of styles. You can see influences from Romantic, Baroque, and even Gothic designs. He also used ideas from ancient Roman cities like Pompeii.

Inside the House

Adam's plan for Syon House included many grand rooms. There is an entrance hall, an ante-room, and the State Dining Room. The State Drawing Room and the Long Gallery are also very impressive. The Long Gallery is 136 feet long!

Adam's most famous additions are the state rooms. They look almost exactly as they did when they were first built. These rooms have detailed marble fireplaces and beautiful columns. The Long Gallery has many small spaces in its thick walls for books. Its walls and ceiling are covered in rich decorations.

Later, in the 1820s, the north part of the house was redesigned. The outside of the house was also refaced with a special stone called Bath stone. The porch was rebuilt too. In the 1860s, more changes were made. New plaster ceilings were added to some of the family rooms.

Today, Syon House has many rooms for visitors to explore. These include the entrance hall, the State Dining Room, and the Long Gallery. The family also has private apartments on the top floor where they live.

Exploring Syon Park

The Great Conservatory at Syon House

Syon Park is a huge 200-acre park next to the River Thames. From the park, you can look across the river to Kew Gardens. The park has a special meadow near the river that floods twice a day. It is home to more than 200 types of rare trees.

Even though the park and its lake were designed by Capability Brown in 1760, they look more like a 19th-century park today. There is a circular pool with a copy of a famous statue called Mercury. The park and house were even painted by the famous artist J. M. W. Turner around 1802-1810.

The Great Conservatory

The Great Conservatory in the gardens is a very special building. It was designed by Charles Fowler and finished in 1827. It was one of the first large buildings made from metal and glass. This design was very new and exciting at the time.

Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland, who was head of the family from 1988 to 1995, was known for planting many trees in the grounds of Syon.

Past Attractions in the Park

From 1981 to 2007, the London Butterfly House was located in Syon Park. It was a popular place where you could see many different kinds of butterflies. It closed because of plans to build a hotel. A hotel called the Hilton London Syon Park opened on the site in 2013.

The Heritage Motor Museum, a collection of old cars, was also once in Syon Park. It opened in 1981 but moved to a new location in 1993 because it had too many cars. Before that, Syon House hosted the London Transport Collection. This collection of old buses and trains moved to Covent Garden in 1980.

Discovering History Underground

Since 2002, archaeologists have been digging in Syon Park. They are looking for the remains of the old Syon Abbey. This annual dig is now done by Birkbeck College, part of the University of London. You can see some of their discoveries in an exhibition at the house.

In 2010, archaeologists found something even older. They uncovered the remains of a Roman village on the site of the new hotel. They found thousands of pottery pieces, coins, and jewelry. They even found some unusual skeletons buried in a way that was not typical for Romans.

Syon Park is a very important natural area. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Filming Location

Syon House and its beautiful grounds have been used as a setting for many movies and TV shows. Some of these include Gosford Park, King Ralph, Emma, The Avengers, Killing Eve, Belgravia and Bridgerton.