This property was close by the Dutch House. Queen Elizabeth I who was a regular visitor to Kew to meet the Earl of Leicester also may have visited a Dr Awberry. She showed him some affection and called him her 'little doctor' This was despite his having been an advocate determinedly endeavouring to save the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. He lived at Kew Park Lodge. It was later the home of Arthur Gorges a companion, amongst several from the great houses of Kew, to Henry Stuart, Prince of Wales. Arthur's son sold to a Sir Richard Bennett whose daughter married Sir Henry Capel a most able and dedicated gardener. His grand niece inherited the property and after her husband died at the hands of a quack Dr Nathaniel St Andre she eloped with this ex-dancing master. The abandoned property was then bought by Frederick, Prince of Wales. His parents, next door at Richmond Lodge, thought he was only there to annoy them. He had the property substantially modernised under the direction of the architect William Kent. George III was responsible for the substantial expansion of the house, at a cost of £9000, under the direction of William Chambers when it became Kew Palace. After this expansion, and with the boys in the nursery establishment of the Dutch House, Richmond Lodge was not required and so George had it pulled down. This palace was demolished by the instruction of George IV in 1824.

O/S Co-ords:1864.7747
Source(s):

Kew Past

Kent was employed by Frederick, Prince of Wales, for the redesign in the palladian style of the house, previously known as Kew Park Lodge and Kew House, to provide a home for the Prince and his consort Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. He had been employed by Frederick's mother, Queen Caroline consort of George II, for the design of the follies that were placed around the grounds of the adjoining estate of Richmond Lodge. Queen Caroline took this employment of Kent as a personal slight as she did all of Frederick's actions.

O/S Co-ords:1864.7747
Source(s):

Kew Past