Richmond: Marble Hill morsels, slice of Ham & deer delights

This is a circular walk starting and finishing at Richmond station. There will be a visit (at least 1.5 hours) to Marble Hill House (free), foot ferry (£2 payable on the day), with an optional pub stop at the end. We’ll visit the Park’s Isabella Plantation, Pen Ponds, Pembroke Lodge Gardens and King Henry’s Mound.

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The route includes a “cultural and heritage” 1.5 hour visit to Marble Hill House (free admission). Therefore numbers are limited due to capacity and booking requirements.
• We plan on taking the ferry across the river (£2 payable per person), which may involve a wait.
• No dogs are allowed due to the visits to Marble Hill House and Pembroke Lodge/Gardens.

The route 

Leaving Richmond station, we’ll walk across the Green via the remains of the Palace to the River Thames. Following the busy river path, we’ll reach historic Marble Hill House for our visit and early lunch. We will cross using the foot ferry to Ham House, then head through Ham Common and Woods to enter Richmond Park. In the Park, we will take in Isabella Plantation, Pen Ponds and Pembroke Lodge Gardens and King Henry’s Mound. On the return to Richmond, we’ll stop to admire the views from Richmond Hill Terrace Gardens, before an optional pub stop in town.

The sights

Richmond on Thames

Despite being just 8 miles from London, Richmond preserves its character with an expansive green surrounded by Queen Anne and Georgian houses leading to an archway, which is all that remains of the former Palace. The Palace was rebuilt during the 1440s: Henry VII died here in 1509, Henry VIII used it until Hampton Court was acquired, it was given to Anne of Cleves and Queen Elizabeth I died here in 1603. Most of the Palace was demolished by 1660.

Marble Hill House (visit included) https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/marble-hill/

Please note we are booked in for a free flow visit (not guided), admission free. We will have at least 1.5 hours to explore with time for an early lunch and you may wish to visit the gardens and cafe.

We will visit the Palladian Marble Hill House, which was built in 1702 for George II’s mistress Henrietta Howard. In her earlier life, her father had died in a duel, and her marriage was a disaster, but she rose to become the King’s official mistress with her own court. The restoration of the House and Park was completed by English Heritage in 2022. 

River Thames ferry and Ham https://www.hammertonsferry.com/services

There is a £2 charge per person and we may need to queue to cross.

We will cross the Thames using the foot ferry.  We will see the outside of Ham House, which was built originally in 1610 following the gift of land by Charles I, and its interiors have hardly changed since then. Elizabeth, the daughter of the original owners, secretly helped Charles II in exile during the Civil War, but retained the house by keeping Oliver Cromwell on side. 17th century gardens have been recreated and surround the house, which we can see through the gates. We will NOT visit the interior or gardens of Ham House (NT). 

Richmond Park

Richmond Park was originally enclosed by eight miles of walls by Charles I, but public access was only secured in 1758 by John Lewis, a local brewer (not the retailer). There are over 600 deer, and the Isabella Plantation was created in the 1950s with streams, and a colourful collection of azaleas and rhododendrons. It’s London’s largest Royal park, largest Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. 

At Pembroke Lodge Gardens, we will visit King Henry’s Mound which boosts a 10 mile direct and protected view of St Paul’s Cathedral, enjoy the views over the Arcadian Thames, and look for Poet’s Corner with a bench dedicated to Ian Drury (“Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick” and “Reasons to be Cheerful”). There are two cafes here also.

A map of the park can be seen here: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Richmond-Park…

Richmond Terrace

The Royal Star and Garter Home adjoins the terrace and was built by funds (and jewels) donated by women as a memorial of men who went to war, opening in 1924.  The view from Richmond Hill is protected by Act of Parliament. 

“Here let us sweep

The boundless landscape... to where

Majestic Windsor lifts his princely brow 

In lovely contrast to this glorious view

Calmly magnificent, then will we turn 

To where the silver Thames first rural grows...

Heavens! What a goodly prospect spreads around 

Of hills, and dales, and woods, and lawns and spires, 

And glittering towns, and gilded streams, till all 

The stretching landscape into smoke decays.”

From THE SEASONS, James Thomson

The route (please click the link to see the route at the Ordnance Survey website)
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/20451933/richmond-ham-and-park
 

Don't waste that space!

Summer walks get really busy so please only book if you know you can make it. If your plans change please free up the space for someone else.

New Members

New members are very welcome. Please message me if you have any questions or concerns before the day. Whilst we are a very open and welcoming group, if you wish, we may be able to organise an existing member to buddy up with you before or on the day. Do also feel free to arrive early as I’m always around much earlier than the start time. 

Dogs

No dogs are allowed on this walk due to the visits to Marble Hill House and Pembroke Lodge Gardens in Richmond Park.

IMPORTANT! – Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.

Image / photo credits: All images taken by the event leader with permission for ODL use.