Osterley Park and House
Osterley Park and House is located in the small town of Isleworth in London, England. The neo-classical mansion was originally a Tudor house built in 1575 by Sir Thomas Gresham. Banker, Sir Francis Child purchased the property in 1713 to serve as a symbol of his wealth and status. His namesake and grandson hired architect Robert Adam to remodel and transform the palace into what it is today. The 140 acre estate was gifted by Lord Jersey in 1949 to the National Trust. The furniture was sold to the Victoria and Albert museum. The National Trust took full ownership in 1991. During its history, the estate served as a training ground for Local Defense Volunteers, and combat and camouflage techniques were also taught on the grounds in the 1940s. The school, Disapproved of by the War Office and Winston Churchill, was closed in 1941 and the staff and courses were relocated. The interior of Osterley House is decorated with friezes, stucco walls, and gilt. There is a grand entrance hall, a tapestry room, a long gallery, a dining room, a library, a state bedchamber, and State apartments with an Etruscan dressing room. Below stairs, on the ground floor are the servants’ hall, the steward’s room, and the kitchen. The palace has a portico, a courtyard, 135 gardens, a pond, a garden room, and The Temple of Pan, honoring the Greek god of hunting and the companion of the nymphs. Osterley Park and House are open to the public. The estate has bike rentals, a children’s playtrail, a café, a shop, and a second-hand bookshop.Â
