Richmond Park
- Royal connection back to King Edward in the 12th Century when it was known as the Manor of Sheen
- 2,500 acres – London’s largest Royal Park.
- From it’s high point there is a protected view to St Paul’s cathedral – 12 miles away.
- Name was changed to Richmond during King Henry VII’s reign.
- Charles I moved to the park to escape the plague, turning it into a park for red and fallow deer.
- 1637 he enclosed the land, allowing pedestrians right of way. The wall remains today.
- 1847 Pembrooke Lodge became the home of then Prime Minister Lord John Russell.
Historic Map of Richmond Park circa 1750
Current Richmond Park links
Isabella Slade
Isabella Plantation 2015
Click on Images for Larger view and captions
Isabella Plantation
- 17th Century area was known as The Sleyt – meaning boggy ground.
- By 1771 shown as Isabella Slade – corruption of the word isabel meaning dingy or greyish yellow.
- 1831 Lord Sidmouth, Richmond Park deputy ranger, fenced of 42 acres – planting oak, beech and sweet chestnut as a crop for timber.
- 1950 the present layout of gardens, clearings, ponds and streams is established.
- 1953 opened to the public.
- 1960 the main stream is dug through the garden.
- 1989 a wild stream was dug in the northern section of the garden.
- Wilson Kurume Azaelas evergreens feature heavily – first introduced to the west from Japan in the 1920’s
- Specialises in rare and unusual tree types and shrub species.
- Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Ponds and streams provide habitat for invertebrates and amphibians.
