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Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
Queen Charlotte’s Cottage is part of the Kew Palace estate and is situated within the botanical gardens at Kew in London.
History
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Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
One source records that a one-storey building was erected on the site between 1754 and 1771 in the grounds of Richmond Lodge during the development of the New Menagerie, possibly as a dwelling for the menagerie keeper. This area now forms the western part of Kew Gardens. The cottage was then given to Queen Charlotte on her marriage to George III in 1761, and she extended the building and added an extra floor to house the tea or picnic room. (1)
Another source states that the earliest mention of the cottage is not until 1771, and that it was built for Queen Charlotte as a cottage orné – a picturesque building made to look like a rustic cottage with aged window frames, poor quality bricks and a thatched roof. It may have been designed to remind Queen Charlotte of the farmhouses from her home in Mecklenburg. (2)
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Boot scraper outside Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
Georgian connection
After their marriage in 1761, George III and Queen Charlotte used first Richmond Lodge and then the White House on the Kew estate as their country retreat. The grounds of both properties are now part of Kew Gardens.
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The print room, Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
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The tea room, Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
What can you see today?
• The picturesque exterior of Queen Charlotte’s Cottage
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Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
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The print room, Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
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The tea room, Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
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Detail from the artwork on the wall of the tea room in Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew |
Queen Charlotte's cottage is in the care of Historic Royal Palaces and has limited opening times. During 2015, the cottage is open 11am to 4pm at weekends and Bank Holidays from Saturday 4 April until Sunday 27 September 2015.
If you enjoyed this article, you might like my guides to Kew Palace and the White House.
Notes
(1) From the Kew Gardens website (accessed 19/2/14). The dates for the building are very vague and if the building was erected after 1761, presumably it could not have been a wedding present. One possible explanation is that the original building was put up in 1754, but alterations were made to it in the period to 1771, after it was given to Queen Charlotte and transformed into her rustic summerhouse.
(2) From Kew Palace, the official illustrated history by Groom and Prosser (2006). They state that the cottage was on the site by 1771. However, if the cottage was altered rather than completely rebuilt, this would explain how the two different histories might fit together.
Sources used include:
Groom, Susanne and Prosser, Lee, Kew Palace, the official illustrated history (2006)
Kew Gardens website (accessed 19/2/14):
Queen Charlotte's Cottage visitor attraction page
Queen Charlotte's Cottage history page
Kew Palace website (accessed 19/2/14)
Photographs © Andrew Knowles - www.flickr.com/photos/dragontomato
Updated 30/5/15
I saw this when a tour I was on was allowed inside as the were the doing the renovation work. Very cool place!
ReplyDeleteIt is funny to think of the royal family in such small rooms, but I agree that it is quaint.
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