Super photos Jim, our intrepid eyes of BrentfordTW8.It is a tremendous looking building from the back. How uplifting good architecture can be.I found this fascinating description of Spring Grove House in the book ‘The History and Antiquities of Syon Monastery: The Parish of Isleworth, and the Chapelry of Hounslow’ By George James Aungier, (1840), page 512. It mentions Sir Joseph Banks giving the name of a new apple after the house – a ‘Spring Grove Codlin’. Go ask for that at Tescos!“At the eastern extremity of the Chapelry of Hounslow is Spring-grove, the seat of Henry Pownall, Esq. In 1645 Sir John Offley had a messuage at Smallbury-green, called Spring-grove, which in 1754, was purchased of his representatives by Elisha Biscoe, Esq. who built the house. It was many years the residence of the late Sir Joseph Banks, the circumnavigator with Captain Cook, who, after having, in early life, rendered eminent services to his country in his physiological inquiries, here continued his scientific researches for the general benefit of mankind. (Sir Joseph Banks contributed to the Transactions of the Horticultural Society, an account of the method of cultivating the American Cranberry at Spring Grove, an account of a new apple, called the Spring Grove Codlin.)The estate was subsequently purchased by the present proprietor, who has expended a considerable sum of money in enlarging and improving the house and grounds. The mansion is a fine square building of brick, which has lately been covered with Roman cement, and, from the great acquisition of frontage under the inclosure, is in its appearance picturesque and striking. The entrance to the house has been changed to the east, and a terrace formed along the south front, with walks leading to extensive lawns and pleasure grounds, beyond which are two kitchen gardens of considerable extent. In one is a fine range of glass forming graperies, pineries, peach-houses, and a conservatory. The dairy, most magnificently fitted up by Sir Joseph Banks, is still kept with much care. Here is preserved a basket of flowers, made, by Sir Joseph Bank’s mother, from shells he collected in his first voyage with Capt. Cook. Many of the rare plants and shrubs planted by the late owner have, we are sorry to say, disappeared since his death. Several, however, still remain, such as the tea-plant and the American cranberries. The magnolias are very large and splendid trees. The Kalmias are past their prime, being some of the first plants introduced into the country. There is also a splendid specimen of the Clanbrassiliana, imported by the late owner with two other plants of the same description, one of which was presented by George III, and is in Kew Gardens, and the other is in the possession of the Duke of Portland. Some of the trees long noticed by travellers on the western road, trained over the wall, yet remain, and bear fruit, though the wall has been removed. The house contains several good pictures:- An original of Charles I, by Stow- The Centurion, by Ferdinand Bol- A Head, by Rembrandt- Sea Pieces, by Wilson- Portrait of Sir James Thornhill- View at the back of the Isle of Wight, by Shayer- The Country Inn, by Moorland- Two views at Tivoli, by Perugino- Two good landscapes, by Berghem- Country Fair, by P. Wouvermans- Head of Christ, by Agnese Dolci- The Miniature, by Harper- One of Glover’s early landscapes. The entrance hall and vestibule contain marble busts of Nelson, Wellington, Pitt, Perceval, Baily’s Eve, Dante, affine Apollo by Rossa, and several others. In the library is a beautiful illuminated initial letter, from the celebrated missal at Florence, painted by Andrea Verocchio (1520), which was stolen by the French in the revolution. It was brought to England by W.Y. Ottley, Esq.”What style we had in Iselworth!
Duncan Walker ● 6632d