Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Gunnersbury Park - parking charges | |
Posted by: | Michael Adams | |
Date/Time: | 15/06/21 22:52:00 |
Adrian Irving explained "But felt the surrounding grounds rather dull. Sorry." The original idea was that standing on the terrace outside the large mansion - through your Dalai Lama arch - it was possible to see the Surrey Hills. Unfortunately a lot has happened in terms of industry outside the walls, and trees maturing inside the walls, in the intervening 150 years. Saying which, the restoration of the horseshoe pond and orangery have certainly improved the immediate vista from the terrace Neither of the houses are all that special - they simply exemplify all the features demanded by 19th century plutocrats. They're the work of local builders rather than prominent architects. The follies in various locations are maybe of greater interest being the work of a London firm James Pulham and Son. Like many local museums Gunnersbury suffers from the fact that most of the more interesting material will already have found its way into the London Museum or the British Museum. It's possibly o.k for a one-off visit but that's probably about it. Although it did of course feature heavily when tendering for the grant. But to be fair they're doing a lot of laudable work in terms of semi-wilderness areas and wildflower plantings in various places - some of which can take the visitor completely by surprise. michael adams ... |