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London Road, BRENTFORD, TW8 8JH

London Road, part of the A315.

Built to a design by Robert Adam in 1773.

This must once have been the grand gateway to Syon Park, seat of the Dukes of Northumberland. Despite all that has been done since the 1970's to put the Park on a commercial footing, this entrance - seldom used - has a neglected air about it. My ancient copy of Pevsner for the old county of Middlesex attributes the design to Robert Adam. Pevsner also mentions that Horace Walpole did not approve - but then he wouldn't; the house he was building at Strawberry Hill was inspired by the Gothic, not the classical. For a closer view of the lion, see Image

Seen in the low light of an afternoon in early January. Syon House was remodelled by Robert Adam in the mid-18th century. The entrance arch and screen date from that same period. For me, the most remarkable detail is the lion's tail.

Syon was named after Mount Zion in the Holy Land. It was founded by King Henry V in 1415 and was one of the last great abbeys to be built. Syon was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539. Syon House was built between 1547 and 1552 in the Italian Renaissance style, over the foundations of the west end of the Abbey church, which had been the size of a cathedral. In the mid 18th century, the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland were determined to make their mark on Syon Park and they completely redesigned the estate. The Scottish architect, Robert Adam was instructed to remodel the interior of Syon House and the Northumbrian designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, to lay out the grounds in the fashionable style of the English Landscape Movement. Syon House and its 200 acre park is still the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have now lived here for over 400 years. This is a former grand entrance on London Road.

This still grand park entrance gateway (now, no longer used) is off the London Road, Brentford - almost opposite Syon Lane. The gates are chained and padlocked.

Syon was named after Mount Zion in the Holy Land. It was founded by King Henry V in 1415 and was one of the last great abbeys to be built. Syon was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539. Syon House was built between 1547 and 1552 in the Italian Renaissance style, over the foundations of the west end of the Abbey church, which had been the size of a cathedral. In the mid 18th century, the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland were determined to make their mark on Syon Park and they completely redesigned the estate. The Scottish architect, Robert Adam was instructed to remodel the interior of Syon House and the Northumbrian designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, to lay out the grounds in the fashionable style of the English Landscape Movement. This included the lake seen here. Syon House and its 200 acre park is still the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have now lived here for over 400 years. This is The Screen seen across London Road. The entrance arch supports a Northumberland Lion and was designed by Adam. It was built in 1773.