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George II (1683-1760) &
Queen Caroline (1683-1737)
Born in Herrenhausen, Hanover in 1683, he married Caroline, Princess
of Brandenburg-Anspach in 1705. In 1718 they moved into Richmond
Lodge, with its extensive grounds bordering the Thames. Caroline
was keenly interested in gardening and employed Charles Bridgeman
and William Kent to develop the grounds. Kent designed a number
of buildings including those known as The Hermitage and Merlin’s
Cave. Only the former survived ‘Capability’ Brown’s
re-landscaping of the grounds in 1766. After George succeeded to
the throne in 1727, Richmond Lodge was bestowed upon Caroline, who
extended the estate further. By 1729 it covered over 400 acres stretching
from Richmond Green to Kew Green. She also opened the grounds to
the public when the royal family were not in residence. Caroline
died in 1737 and the estate passed to George II who continued to
visit the property during the summer months until his death in 1760.
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Prince of Wales
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