Press Release
TIME TEAM uncovers the Royal history of Kew
Channel 4, Sunday 2 March 2003 at 5.30pm
For release Friday 21 February 2003
The story of Kew Gardens' lost Royal palace is about to be uncovered with
the broadcasting of Channel Four’s Time Team programme on Channel
4, Sunday 2 March at 5.30pm.
With a history dating back 250 years and architectural treasures which
include 40 listed buildings and two ancient monuments, the Gardens offered
rich potential for the Time Team archaeologists. Royal rivalries between
George lll and his son helped to shape Kew’s past and led to the
building of several royal residences on the site.
With help from Jonathan Foyle from Historic Royal Palaces, Time Team set
out to discover the location of Kew’s lost palace, the White House.
This was where King George III spent time during his bouts of insanity.
George ordered the house to be demolished in 1802 and the only remaining
evidence was from illustrations, maps and parch marks on the lawn in dry
weather.
William Kent, the architect, created a large, grand facade for the White
House, and the Team discovered that its front wall was in line with the
Orangery. The excavations also found that the Palace was built around
a Tudor core with an internal patio garden. The courtyard area was much
older than the White House of c1730 and in the 18th century, an ornamental
fountain had been added. Some of its remains were found in the well of
the building during the excavations.
The team found a Tudor fireplace and two Tudor basement walls, a small
George III coin, and a South Sea shilling- dating from the period of the
South Sea Bubble. They also found the stem of a Georgian wine glass, and
a small fragment of pottery with an oriental design- a link with the Pagoda
and the 18th century fascination with all things Chinese.
"It was an amazing experience", said Nigel Taylor, Head of Horticulture
and Public Education at Kew. "We knew roughly where the Palace was,
but it was fascinating to compare the plans and the reality and discover
so many new aspects of the site. We have spent a good deal of time looking
into the history of the Kew as part of our application for World Heritage
Site status and this has greatly added to our understanding of our Royal
heritage."
Time Team has raised the popularity of archaeology in Britain to new heights
and attracts around 3.5million viewers.
Kew Gardens is open daily from 9.30am and closes at 5.30pm, Monday to
Friday and 6.30pm at weekends and Bank Holidays. Entry is £7.50
for adults, £5.50 for concessions. Children of 16 and under are
admitted free.
For further Information, contact Hannah Rogers or Claire Hyde at Kew Gardens
Press Office Tel 020 8332 5607/5619.
For further Press information please contact:
|
Kew: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5607/5619 |
Wakehurst Place: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)1444 894018 |
