osterley park

Osterley Park

These are some images I took of Osterley Park, which is a stately home just a short distance to the west of London.

This is the drive leading up to the entrance. It was early May and all the trees had recently sprung into life and were looking wonderfully green. On the left you can see a small green hut, which is where you pay your entrance fee to enter the park. Osterley Park is owned by the National Trust.

Just beyond the entrance gate there is a path which winds around this lake, leading towards the house. There are three lakes which were designed to look like a river flowing beside the house.

The may blossom was in flower. It gives off a lovely scent and looks so pretty.

This swan and its little cygnet approached as I walked beside the lake. They soon moved away when they discovered that I had no bread with which to feed them.

Here we get a glimpse of the house. Osterley House was built in the 18th century for the Child family, and designed by the famous architect, Robert Adam. At the time it was built this Palladian architecture was the height of fashion and the house was used to lavishly entertain the leaders of society of the period.

Immediately before I reached the house I paused to look at the bird life. The bank of the lake here was covered in daisies and many birds and their young were enjoying the peaceful setting.

This family scuttled past me as they made their way back to the water. I don't know what breed they are. I don't think they are a native British breed.

Some steps were being used as a launching point to get back into the water.

wisteria in bloom at National Trust property

Along the side of the house the wisteria was in bloom. It must have taken many years to get this large.

This is the view from the entrance to the house, with vistas of the grounds. A school party was sitting under the trees, eating their lunch.

Visitors are not allowed to take photos in the house (which is very beautiful by the way) but after I visited the house, I continued my tour of the gardens. This tree is over 200 years old.

This is one of the flower borders. It is known as 'Dickie's border' after a gardener who worked there for a long period, starting in 1948.

Around the side of the house is a very pretty flower garden which is known as 'Mrs Child's garden'.

Nearby,an American border (containing many native U.S plants) is in the process of being restored.

The American statesman Thomas Jefferson visited Osterley in 1786 and the American border would have been established around that time.

This garden house has been used for centuries to over winter plants which could not stand the coldest part of the British winter.

Oranges and lemons are grown in pots and placed outside only in the warmer months. Apparently in Mrs. Child's time 45 of these large planters were placed outside in summer, to impress her visitors.

As is typical, there is a walled kitchen garden beside the house. These days there are not the numerous staff of gardeners required to manage a vegetable garden of this size, but there was a sign stating that this garden is currently being restored by volunteers.

A view of one of the other garden houses, which were placed to add interest to the landscape, and to provide a spot to rest on a walk around the grounds.

In the grounds there is a large meadow. It was a gorgeous time to visit as the cow parsley and may blossom were all in flower.

distant vista of Osterley House, middlesex

This is the furthest point of a path which circles around the grounds. You can just see the house in the distance.

Returning to the house from the walk around the grounds this is the view that appears.

To obtain more details of the house visit the National Trust website. www.NationalTrust.org.uk