George IV's influence

Despite his general apathy, George IV did have plans for one area of the royal estates at Kew and Richmond. In 1819, while still Prince Regent, he began negotiations for Hunter House, and in 1820 he bought it and its six acres, along with Meyer House, directly across Ferry Lane. He intended to demolish the Dutch House and to adapt or replace Hunter House and Meyer House to create a new building, King's Lodge. As part of this grand scheme, George applied to Parliament to close the portion of Kew Green that lay in front of them and to the east, and in 1824 Parliament agreed.

In 1825 George built imposing new gates, complete with lodges, to mark his new entrance. These forced the closure of the old entrance to the Botanic Gardens, so a new entrance was created, for which he built new double gates. The public side of George's new main gates were marked by a line of lime trees which still survive along a path now known as Birdcage Walk.

Notably, George IV finally secured the 20 acres of land on which the Pagoda and the Pagoda Wilderness stood. The lease had expired in 1819 and in 1822 the owner gave it to the crown in exchange for land on the other side of Kew Road. His final royal edict regarding the estate at Kew and Richmond was in 1827, when he ordered the demolition of the unfinished Castellated Palace. George IV died in 1830.

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