| House & Gardens |
About Our Events |
We have put great emphasis on activities that involve the community in ways that are appropriate to the setting and to the wishes of our members. |
Book Tickets now for the Friends'
Summer |
|
SOLD OUT On 26 June at 7.30pm on the North Lawn of Chiswick House grounds the Garden Opera Company will present Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti - a comic opera in three acts. This is the fourth year the Friends have promoted a summer opera in the grounds Chiswick House and the event is again expected to attract a wide local audience. Tickets will go on sale from 1st May and cost £26.00. The audience is again encouraged to bring picnics and make the most of the wonderful surroundings and enjoy a special seasonal supper in the open. The event's main sponsor is local brewers Fuller, Smith & Turner who will also have a bar pavilion in the grounds for purchases of wine, champagne and beer on the evening.
Founded in 1994, 2008 will be The Garden Opera Company's 14th season. Productions are sung in English by young professional singers with an acclaimed chamber ensemble accompaniment. Their entertaining, intimate and approachable style attracts opera-lovers and absolute newcomers alike. Don Pasquale, Donizetti's comic masterpiece, has a freshness which never falters. First performed in 1843, the story harkens back to the stock characters of the commedia dell'arte and it rings true today as if it were minted yesterday. The opera sparkles with wit and the most enchanting music - it is deliciously funny and compassionate and well suited to Garden Opera's style and the stunning location of Chiswick House Grounds which were designed by the third Earl of Burlington (1694-1753), who drew inspiration from his "grand tours" of Italy to create this elegant classical villa. |
Arrive early and picnic before the opera starts and there will be a 45 minute interval to continue. Picnics and drinks can be pre-ordered from the Grove Park Deli who will deliver to the event for maximum enjoyment and minimum hassle. Hampers and champagne, wine and beer can be ordered by calling 020 8995 8219 or email JANE CLARK returns for autumn concert at Chiswick House |
|
Following the tremendous success of the 2007 concert we are delighted to announce that Janiculum, the 18th century revivalists, will be performing at the House again on 1 October 2008. Jane Clark, a celebrated harpsichord player, founded Janiculum to revive forgotten 18th century manuscripts and editions popular at that time. Instruments used are either originals or modern copies and last year's concert was greatly enjoyed by a capacity audience. Jane will be accompanied by Harry Nicoll (tenor) John Trusler (violin) and Graham Walker (cello). News about tickets will be available here soon for this much anticipated event. TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT |
DUMFRIES HOUSE – SAVED FOR THE NATION |
|
an evening with expert historian CAROLINE KNIGHT Dumfries House, also a Palladian treasure like Chiswick House, was saved for the nation at the eleventh hour by a consortium of charities, led by the Prince of Wales. Caroline Knight, the noted architectural historian specialising in British architecture of the 16th - 18th centuries will give a talk on Thursday 25 September about the history of Dumfries House and its amazing contents. This is a chance to learn about the fine collection of documented Chippendale and Edinburgh furniture which have remained unchanged and unseen by the public for 250 years until the recent opening of the House. Caroline runs the High Renaissance, baroque year course at the V & A and runs courses in Scotland on Scottish architecture and collections. Caroline has written a history of Kensington Palace and her book "London's Country Houses" will be published in November. Tickets for this fascinating evening will be available here soon. |
Chiswick House Friends Save Painting for the Nation |
Chiswick House Friends have helped to rescue a spectacular eighteenth century view of Chiswick House. The painting by Pieter Andreas Rysbrack (1684-1748) was auctioned at Sotheby's in June. The initial estimate was £120,000, but the outcome was uncertain and the competition for a work of this quality was always bound to be tough. Funding for important art purchases is hard to get in the current financial climate. English Heritage started an urgent search for organisations which might be able to help it to buy this unique view of Chiswick House seen from the south west. It is one of a set painted in about 1729, five items of which are already in the House. At a meeting the night before the auction, Chiswick House Friends agreed to commit £15,000 in support of the bid. The search for funding went up to the wire, but the Friends' support helped to give English Heritage bidders the backing to compete in the auction, and the picture was finally acquired for Chiswick House at a hammer price of £200,000. The painting is now available for all to see in Chiswick House following restoration. This is one of the most exciting within the group, as it represents the relationship between Burlington's New House, (the current Chiswick Villa), and the outline of the old Jacobean home, which no longer exists. It is a wonderful record of the historic landscape, the footprint of what we know and recognise today |
Dates For Your Diary |
|
Chiswick House Friends AGM: 16th June 2008 |
Chiswick House Friends Say NO to Heathrow Expansion |
|
Earlier this spring the Friends mounted a campaign against the expansion of Heathrow. The trustees felt that the new runway 3 flight-path, the end of alternation and the increase in flights from 473,000 a year to over 700,000, would pose a serious threat to the peace and atmosphere of the House and gardens. Furthermore the increase in noise, pollution and traffic would blight events and local enjoyment of the site. Due to time constraints - the public consultation closed on the 27th February - members were canvassed by e-mail on the proposed campaign. The response was overwhelmingly in favour of a short focused campaign targeting opinion-formers through PR and advertising. Our message was sent to the media in a press release and John Armstrong, our Deputy Chairman, was interviewed in the gardens in front of Chiswick House by BBC London TV news. This was broadcast the following Monday at 6.30pm and 10.30 pm. John was also interviewed on BBC Radio London earlier the same day. |
News Updates |
Chiswick House Friends Save Painting for the Nation The Heritage Lottery Fund have agreed to an extension to allow more time for the comments from the consultations to be more fully integrated in the Stage 2 proposals. The detailed proposals will be ready for formal consultation in 2007. |
KGA Open Days |
Chiswick House Kitchen Garden Association finished the season with the last opening in mid-September on behalf of the National Garden Scheme (Yellow Book). It was a lovely sunny day, and the garden looked marvellous. £1,240 was raised for various cancer charities to be distributed by the NGS, and £310 for Motor Neurone Disease to be added to the Carole Weale Memorial Fund. All are welcome to Tuesday drop-in work sessions anytime between 10am and 4pm. Teenagers are welcome to the Duke of Edinburgh sessions. Details on the website www.kitchengarden.org.uk |
2008 Dog Show |
|
Chiswick House Friends and CHOW are pleased to announce that the 2008 Dog Show will take place on Sunday September 28th in the cricket pitch area of the Gardens. Last year's event was judged to have been very successful with estimated visitor numbers of over 800 throughout the day. Over 250 dogs were registered for class entries and the participation of local businesses such as Outsider Tart and charities such as Labradoodle Rescue added to the entertainment. The organisers were delighted with the response to the show, and have plans to add to the experience this year. These include new classes and the introduction of an additional ring to reduce overall class sizes. Visitors will also be able to pre-register for classes to reduce queues (more on this nearer the time). "Many visitors and regular park-users were keen to know how the money raised would be spent," says a spokesperson. "We are in discussion with the park management regarding the upgrade of existing dog bins, which are not in a good condition. The waste bags kindly provided by The Dogs Trust following last year's show are already available and being used in the gardens." If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this year's event, look out for the details on www.chowgroup.co.uk or www.chfriends.org.uk |
Cricket fund-raising dinner a huge success |
|
This January three ex Captains of English cricket – Chris Cowdrey, Mike Gatting and Tom Graveney joined forces with local Chiswick supporters at a special fund-raising dinner to improve the cricket facilities at Chiswick House. They were backed by cricket luminaries Chris Adams, Ian Salisbury, Simon Hughes and Patrick Eagar. 150 local enthusiasts paid to attend the dinner and participated in a live cricket auction, co-ordinated by Chiswick local John Ayling who last year was awarded the OBE for his services to sport. The auction was hosted by Chris Cowdrey. More than £12,000 was raised during the evening - enough to replace the non-turf pitch and to replace ageing showers and toilets in the pavilion. Work is already in hand to improve the square and outfield. Proceeds from this event will also provide funds for further improvements still under discussion – including new nets. Prior to the dinner a total of £6,200 had been raised from grants and donations including £3,000 from the Lord’s Taverners, £1,000 from Middlesex CCC Centenary Youth Trust and £500 from Hounslow Local Area Committee. |
Friends make contribution to restoration of cricket facilities in the grounds |
New hope has been brought to the restoration of Chiswick House's cricket facilities through a specific focus by London Borough of Hounslow site manager, Richard Gill and the new contractors – George Burley & Sons. Together they have brought an expertise which has been lacking in recent years. Additional remedial work has been done to the Square and Outfield this autumn at a cost of c. £2,000. The Friends have made a major contribution of £770 and the balance of costs will be met by the Middlesex Cricket Board and from fundraising by the two cricket teams that play regularly on the site – Chiswick & Latymer and Ealing Wanderers. The cricket pitch in Chiswick House Grounds originated at the end of the 1800s when doctors and patients of the Tuke's asylum, then based in Chiswick House, started playing cricket in the grounds for exercise. Through the 1940s, 50s and into the 60s cricket in ‘The House' was a major attraction. At that time the outfield was like a bowling green and the ‘Square' was of county standard but over recent years funds for maintenance of the facilities have reduced substantially. The playing surfaces and the quality of cricket played in the grounds then deteriorated considerably but new funding provides a good future for players. |
Copyright © 2008 Chiswick House Friends | e-mail: secretary@chfriends.org.uk | website design by: www.hkamarkets.com