Definitive History of Chiswick House Published

Gillian Clegg writes an account of one of the country’s most iconic and important estates

Chiswick House was one of the first and finest neo-Palladian villas to be built in England. It was designed by its owner, the 3rd Earl of Burlington, an important cultural figure of the time. The gardens became the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement due to the influence of Burlington’s friend, William Kent.

What is likely to prove the definitive account of the history of the house is about to be published.

This important book tells the story of the Chiswick House estate from the 17th- century Jacobean mansion through to the present day. It records the building of the villa, its history and its famous occupants, including Georgiana, charismatic Duchess of Devonshire, the future King Edward VII, and the clever elephant and spitting llama from the 6th Duke’s renowned menagerie.

During the 20th century the estate entered a gradual decline that included a period as a mental home before being sold by the Duke of Devonshire to the local council for public use as a park. This is the first book to bring the history of Chiswick House right up-to-date, including its recent £12-million regeneration.

The Author: Gillian Clegg (pictured left) is one of the archivists for the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust.

She is the author of several books about the area, including Chiswick Past and The Chiswick Book: Past and Present. She has lived in Chiswick for 35 years.

Chiswick House and Gardens - A History is to be published by McHugh Publications on 23rd September 2011 and will be priced at £14.99. ISBN 978-0-9569164-0-2.

September 10, 2011