White Lodge, Richmond Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Lodge |
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White Lodge, Richmond Park
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| Location | Richmond Park, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |
| Built | 1727–30 |
| Architect | Roger Morris |
| Architectural style(s) | English Palladian |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: White Lodge | |
| Designated | 10 March 1981 |
| Reference no. | 1250045 |
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White Lodge is a beautiful old house in Richmond Park, London. It's a special building because it's listed as Grade I, meaning it's very important historically. The house was built in the Georgian style.
Once upon a time, it was a home for kings and queens. Today, it's home to the Royal Ballet Lower School. Young dancers aged 11 to 16 live and train here.
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The Early Days of White Lodge
White Lodge was built as a hunting lodge for King George II. A hunting lodge is a place where people stay when they go hunting. The architect who designed it was Roger Morris. Building started in 1727, soon after George II became king.
The house was finished in 1730. It was first called Stone Lodge, but then its name changed to New Lodge. This was to tell it apart from another old house nearby called Old Lodge. Old Lodge was later taken down in 1841.
King George II had built Old Lodge for Sir Robert Walpole, who was Britain's first prime minister. A prime minister is the head of the government. Sir Robert Walpole loved to visit Old Lodge, especially for hunting. He once said he could "do more business there than he could in town."
Royal Residents and Park Changes
Caroline of Ansbach, who was King George II's wife, often stayed at the new lodge. After she passed away in 1737, White Lodge went to her friend, Sir Robert Walpole.
After Sir Robert Walpole died, the house went to Queen Caroline's daughter, Princess Amelia, in 1751. Princess Amelia also became the "ranger" of Richmond Park. This meant she was in charge of the park.
Princess Amelia decided to close the whole park to the public. Only her important friends and people with special passes could enter. This made many people angry! In 1758, a local brewer took a park gatekeeper to court. The court case made Princess Amelia open the park to everyone again. Princess Amelia is also remembered for adding two white parts to the main house. These parts are still there today.
The Name White Lodge Appears
After Princess Amelia stopped being the park ranger in 1760, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, became the new ranger. He was also a prime minister. White Lodge was his official home.
It was during this time that the name "White Lodge" was first written down. Lady Mary Coke wrote in her journal on July 24, 1768, that King George III and Queen Charlotte were "always at the White Lodge on a Sunday."
Famous Visitors
After some repairs, King George III gave White Lodge to another prime minister, Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. In 1805, Lord Sidmouth created the first private gardens around the lodge. King George III, who loved farming, made himself the park ranger. Lord Sidmouth became the deputy ranger.
A very famous visitor came to White Lodge on September 10, 1805. It was Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, a famous British admiral. He visited Lord Sidmouth and is said to have explained his battle plan for the Battle of Trafalgar there.
White Lodge in the 1800s
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After Lord Sidmouth died in 1844, Queen Victoria gave the house to her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh. She was the last living daughter of King George III.
When her aunt died in 1857, Prince Albert (Queen Victoria's husband) thought White Lodge would be a good, quiet place for their son. This son was the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. Prince Albert wanted his son to study there. The Prince of Wales found his time at White Lodge quite boring. He only had five companions, including two teachers.
In early 1861, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed at White Lodge. This was after Queen Victoria's mother passed away.
The Teck Family and a Royal Birth
The next people to live at White Lodge were Prince Francis, Duke of Teck and his wife, Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Queen Victoria let them use the house in 1869. Princess Mary Adelaide was known for spending a lot of money. She often asked the Queen for more money, but it didn't work. Because of their money problems, the family had to leave the country in the 1880s to avoid people they owed money to.
In 1891, Queen Victoria wanted to find a wife for her grandson, Prince Albert Victor. She chose Princess Mary Adelaide's daughter, Victoria Mary. Sadly, Prince Albert Victor died a few months before their wedding in 1892.
So, Victoria Mary married his brother, Prince George, Duke of York, in 1893. Prince George later became King George V. In 1894, the Duchess of York gave birth to her first child at White Lodge. This baby was the future King Edward VIII. Queen Victoria visited the Lodge soon after to see the new prince. He was named Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David. His baptism happened in the Green Drawing Room of White Lodge on July 16, 1894.
Three years later, the Duchess of Teck died at White Lodge. The Duke of Teck passed away there in 1900.
White Lodge in the 1900s
After Queen Victoria died in 1901, a rich widow named Eliza Emma Hartmann lived at the Lodge. She later had money problems in 1909.
The house became a royal home again in 1923. This was for the honeymoon of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and the Duchess of York. Prince Albert later became King George VI. Queen Mary, who had lived at White Lodge as a child, wanted them to make it their home.
In 1924, Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia was born at the house. His mother was visiting the Duke and Duchess of York. The Duke and Duchess stayed at White Lodge until late 1925. After that, the building was rented out.
From 1927, different private people lived in the house. The last private resident was Colonel James Veitch, who lived at White Lodge until 1954.
The Royal Ballet School at White Lodge
In 1955, the Sadler's Wells Ballet School was given White Lodge to use permanently. The school later received a special Royal Charter. This meant it became the Royal Ballet School in 1956. Today, it is known as one of the best ballet schools in the world.
As part of its changes, the Royal Ballet School moved and made its ballet museum bigger. It now included a gallery and items about the history of White Lodge. The museum opened to the public in 2009 but closed in 2015.
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See also
In Spanish: White Lodge para niños
- Former royal residences
- Richmond Park
- Royal Ballet School
