Latest News

Click here for our Autumn newsletter.

Access to Chiswick House and Gardens.
Click here for the latest information.

Dog Show - 2009 The biggest turn out yet.
A fun event is for the whole community. FInd out more>

Photograph copyright to: MCampbell-Pederson 2008

Membership

By joining the Friends you are contributing to the long term future of Chiswick House and Gardens, and can also add your voice to the influence we have for the future of the site. Find out more >

Volunteers

Would you be interested in supporting the Friends' activities? We always need volunteers to help with a variety of events; it is a great way to meet people in the community and would suit anyone with a few hours to spare. Find out more>

Other volunteer groups include:

Kitchen Garden Association Find out more>
CHOW (Dog Walkers) Find out more>
Goosefoot (Gardeners) Find out more>
English Heritage - The House Find out more>

Introduction

Chiswick House Friends is a charitable trust that was established in 1984 to support the restoration, preservation and enhancement of Chiswick House and its gardens for the benefit of all.

On this website you can learn more about Chiswick House and Gardens, and the activities that take place there. We provide you with news about the plans for development of the grounds, and you can find out about the Friends, our events and the projects we are supporting.

We are very keen to encourage as many people as possible from the local community to join us, to help support our projects that help to improve the House and Grounds. The Friends provides a way to voice the views of the local community who love and use the park. It is also a good way to keep informed of the progress of the Heritage Lottery Fund grant which will go towards the cost of restoring, repairing and revitalising this unique park, and providing sustainable resources for its care in the future.   

Here you can find out how to get to the House, access links to other related organisations and download our recent newsletters. We'll keep you informed about the ways you can have your say about the house and gardens and, last but not least, find details about how to join us!

Events

There are numerous events in the house and gardens. The Friends are responsible for some of these. We put great emphasis on activities that involve the community in ways that are appropriate to the setting and to the wishes of our members.

Venus to Gaze Over Restored Gardens

"Venus, Aphrodite, Godess of Love, spread your blessing over this great enterprise so that we may together complete the restoration and continue to keep it beautifully, visited, understood and valued worldwide". These wordswere spoken by our first Chairman at the inauguration of the Venus de Medici on 21st September 2009.

Chiswick House Friends celebrated a high spot in their Silver Jubilee year on 21st September 2009, when the newly carved copy of the Medici Venus statue was be fixed on top of the Doric Column in Chiswick House Gardens.

The existence of a statue at this focal point of the Gardens was first recorded in 1728. The Column was later surrounded by a rose garden. At some point the statue disappeared. Over the years the rose garden was suppressed, re-planted and then like the rest of the Gardens went into decline again.

The Chairman of Chiswick House Friends, George Nissen, stated, "We are immensely proud to be making our own special mark on the Restoration Project. I hope that the new statue of Venus will be a landmark symbol for the Friends, and will encourage everyone in our future efforts for these much-loved Gardens and House.”

The Friends celebratde the "topping" of the column in the Gardens and toasted the new statue at their annual CHF Party on the same day

If you would like to become a member please click here for an Application Form and join us. (See our our Chiswick House Friends page on this site for membership details).

 

Sports Activities in the Grounds

There are many activities in the Grounds throughout the year.
For further details of tennis, hockey,cricket and more click here