Latest updates

• May 2022 Updates

  May 2022 Updates

  We are delighted to announce that from Saturday 21 May the house at Marble Hill and the Woodland Quarters will reopen following three years of restoration work.

  Whereas previously the house’s opening hours were very limited, Marble Hill will now be open for free, five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday. We’d love for you to join our opening day celebrations on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 May. Please click here to find out more about the Opening Weekend events and to book your free tickets.

  To read more about our latest updates, download a copy of our newsletter.

• February 2022 Updates

  February 2022 Updates

  The house at Marble Hill is reopening to visitors this spring for free, five days a week.
  
  Experienced paint and conservation specialists have been restoring the house and its collection to its former glory, and our curators have been developing new ways to share the fascinating stories of the house and its former owner, Henrietta Howard. We’ve also installed a new lift to provide step-free access to the first floor.
  
  We’re looking for volunteer house explainers to welcome visitors, answer questions and help them to better understand the history of Marble Hill. If you’re looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.
  
  The final phase of planting is now underway in the gardens, and work is taking place around the nine pin bowling alley and along the Sweet Walk, which runs from the White Lodge to the house.
  To apply to volunteer please register here. 

  To find out more, download a copy of our newsletter.

• November 2021 Updates

  November 2021 Updates

  The 18th-century grotto at Marble Hill had been lost for many years but was rediscovered in the 1940s. Limited excavations took place in the 1980s, when shells and corals used to decorate the walls were found, but limited funds meant that the grotto was only partially re-constructed.

  This August, archaeologists from Historic England and AOC went back to investigate further and uncovered huge lumps of coral, fully intact exotic shells from the Caribbean and a three hundred-year-old floor encrusted with flint, pebbles and knuckle bone. We know from letters that Marble Hill’s then owner, Henrietta Howard, and her great niece were instrumental in decorating the grotto, so these finds are an exciting link to the past. Over the next few months, samples will be taken and casts made to reconstruct elements of the finds, and these will be incorporated into the new interpretation scheme in the house.

  To find out more, download a copy of our newsletter.

• August 2021 Updates

  August will see the departure of the project's building contractors who've been working tirelessly on reviving Marble Hill House, and following the easing of restrictions the cafe interior is now open.

  The project's contractors have been hard at work over the last year making necessary repairs and installing systems which carefully monitor the house's environment, safeguarding Marble Hill and its collection for the future.

  English Heritage conservation specialists and volunteers are now making sure every inch of the space is free from dust before the silks can be rehung and the collection brought back.

  The new interpretation scheme for the house and collection has been finalised, and local families have helped create a free family trail. When the house opens next spring, we hope it will give little explorers an enjoyable way to understand more about the stories and the people of Marble Hill House.

  We're pleased to be able to open the Coach House Cafe for sit down service where visitors can now enjoy homemade soups and sausage rolls, hot sandwiches and scrumptious salads, some of which use produce grown in our very own kitchen garden.

  To find out more, download a copy of our newsletter.

• July 2021 Updates

  July 2021 Updates

  We have been planting thousands of shrubs and native hedgerow plants and hundres of trees in the woodland quarter over the past two years and fragrant herbs now adorn the entrace to the cafe.

  As you may have seen we have recently opened our play area, we hope your little ones have been enjoying its new features such as the trampoline and willow tunnel.

  We are also renovating the cricket nets and tennis courts, and there is a new website where you will be able to book your sessions.

  Marble Hill House's newly painted exterior was also revealed when the scaffolding came down in April and we have also been sampling the paint inside the house for research. We will continue to work on the interiors over the summer with the house's collection being moved back later in the year.

  To find out more, download a copy of our newsletter.

• Spring Updates 2021

  Spring Updates 2021

  Huge progress has been made as part of the restoration of Marble Hill House which will see it open for free, five days a week in 2022. Before Christmas, we repaired the roof and the house was repainted a more authentic colour. Paint specialists specified an off-white to replicate the 'lead white' that would have been used historically.

  Seasonal highlights:

  • To help make sure that the house fully accessible and more people can enjoy Marble Hill's story, we have installed a lift to the first floor of the house
  • Repairs have been undertaken throughout the house and the drainage system has also been improved
  • We have been looking at new interpretation for the house, and we can't wait to work with the Marble Hill community to help develop the new family trail that will be given out as visitors enter the house
  • In the park, the football and rugby fields have been repaired and 4,000 bulbs have been planted by our volunteers
  • The Friends of Marble Hill group has been set up with more people joining the committee and bringing many skills with them. We're looking forward to working with them to broaden the outreach of the Friends group across all sections of the community.

  Read our full newsletter here.

• Winter 2020 Updates

  As you may have seen, work has been continuing across the park this winter, including archaeology in three locations to explore and understand the park’s history in a little more detail. More sports pitches have been resurfaced and the children’s play area is due to have equipment installed – ready to open alongside the café in 2021.

  Seasonal highlights:

  • We’ve been carrying out work to the drainage system to help with the significant damp problem. All the windows and blinds in the house are in the process of being restored and replaced where necessary, and now we have much better water pressure.
  • Significant conservation work has been carried out on key pieces within the collection and new interpretation is being installed, including a soundscape and children’s dress up area.
  • This November you’ll also see poppies across Marble Hill – each one representing a life lost in our community during the two world wars. During November volunteer research on Marble Hill’s role in the war effort will also be on display alongside our programme of online seminars.
  • A group of volunteers has set up the Friends of Marble Hill to help support the park and the house, and to ensure it continues to be a wonderful place for community.  Find out how you can get involved in our newsletter.

  Read our full newsletter here.

• Autumn Updates 2020

  Throughout the pandemic, the park at Marble Hill has been operating with a smaller than usual team – but it’s still been open for everyone to enjoy. We’ve also continued to work on the Marble Hill Revived project in a way that has ensured the safety of our park users, staff and contractors.

  Of course the impact of the pandemic has been challenging for us, and delays have been unavoidable. We are now planning to open the new café in 2021 with the house to follow in 2022. The house will still be opening free of charge five days a week, as planned.

  Seasonal highlights:

  • In July, we took a special delivery from Ham House – a boatload of freshly-cut hay, full of seeds of flowering plants and delicate grasses. This was then spread out at various locations across Marble Hill, it is hoped that a similarly abundant grassland will flourish in Marble Hill’s park.
  • We completed the walkway nearest to Orleans Gallery and work started on improving the sports pitches including significant drainage work and reseeding the grass.
  • Our event programme was also able to safely restart in September, with our Family Heritage Days and Planting for Butterflies online seminar.

  Find out more in our newsletter.

• Winter Updates 2019

  With the House now closed to the public, our Collections team have been busy removing over 1,000 historic items from the house in time for the start of building works. Specialist art handlers have also helped us to pack and transport the house's delicate gilt furniture and precious paintings. 

  Since the collection has been removed we've made some intriguing discoveries - a fragment of historic wallpaper was found beneath the replica wallpaper in the Dressing Room, and we've uncovered evidence of previously unknown doorways. 

  When the house re-opens in 2021, you will be able to visit it for free, five days of the week for seven months of the year.

  Please note that from 25th November 2019 the White Lodge gate will be closed for public access as works take place on our Marble Hill House restoration project. The nearest access into Marble Hill Park in the vicinity of White Lodge will be the pedestrian gate on Richmond Road directly in front of Marble Hill House.

  Seasonal highlights include:

  • Landscape work began in the north woodland quarters in December to help encourage more biodiversity and protect native plant species. If you would like to get involved, please check our  Volunteers page for future opportunities and check our events page to join our community volunteer mornings. 

  Find out more in our newsletter.

• Autumn 2019 update

  We are now at a stage where you will begin to see phased work taking place in the landscape and within the house at Marble Hill. 

  At the end of this season, Marble Hill House will close to the public for conservation works. When the house re-opens in 2021, you will be able to visit it for free, five days of the week for seven months of the year.

  Please note that from 25th November 2019 the White Lodge gate will be closed for public access as works take place on our Marble Hill House restoration project. The nearest access into Marble Hill Park in the vicinity of White Lodge will be the pedestrian gate on Richmond Road directly in front of Marble Hill House.

  Seasonal highlights include:

  • The recruitment of our new Head Gardener who will help recruit park volunteers and deliver the revived landscape as part of the project. If you would like to get involved, please check our  Volunteers page for future opportunities.
  • The project has also created training opportunities to develop skills in heritage and horticulture such as the recruitment of our new Apprentice Gardener.

  Find out more in our newsletter.

• Summer 2019 - Marble Hill Revived Update

  Since our planning application received approval in December 2018, we’ve been working hard on the Marble Hill Revived project.

   This has included:

  • Our Ranger team working with the Environment Trust volunteers throughout the year to plant a new hedge line along the Western perimeter of the park. The improved wildlife hedge will provide increased nectar, berries and foliage. 

  • We have also had an action packed summer with an exciting events programme. Our programme included lots of various activities from art picnics to a family fun day and heritage mornings. We’re looking forward to our next season of events and hope to see you there. 

• December 2018 - our planning application has been approved

  DECEMBER 2018 - OUR PLANNING APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED
  

  Richmond Council has approved our Marble Hill Revived plans! We are delighted and would like to thank everyone who supported and commented on our proposals – we could not have reached this milestone without you. We can’t wait to start reviving the house and park.

  Please find our community newsletters below:

  September 2018

  July 2018

  May 2018

  March 2018

• September 2018 our revised planning application has been submitted

  SEPTEMBER 2018 - OUR REVISED PLANNING APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED

  We've been listening to your thoughts and concerns about our proposals for Marble Hill. And in response, we’ve made some significant changes including: 

  ■ The Café – instead of extending the existing café, we’ll refurbish it and keep it within the Stable Block

  ■ The Play Area – we will keep the existing baby area and provide another space for young children

  ■ The Landscape – we will place a greater emphasis on biodiversity and we’ll restore the landscape at a slower pace to reduce the short-term impact on wildlife

  For more information, read our latest community newsletter.

  Thank you to everyone who commented on our plans. The feedback we’ve received over the past six months has made for a better proposal. We’ve now submitted a new planning application and we’re asking you to support it.

• March 2018 - Further consultation

  We want to get our plans for Marble Hill right. In light of concerns raised about the project - about the extension of the café, the play area and the restoration of the historic garden - we are starting a new community consultation programme to try to find a practical consensus on the areas of concern.

  We will:

  • Widen the membership of the existing Community Steering Group to include additional residents' groups and other groups so that their concerns can be fully represented
  • Set up a number of Consultation Workshops to discuss those aspects of the proposals that have attracted particular concerns
  • Organise a number of open days at the park where we can answer your questions
  • Be in touch with you more regularly so that you can see and read about the proposals more easily

  We hope that, together, we can go forward positively to secure agreement on how best to revive Marble Hill House and Park.

• April 2018 - Our consultation is underway

  Since we withdrew our planning application and decided to look afresh at our plans for Marble Hill, our consultation with the local community has been in full swing.

  • Our expanded Community Steering Group has met. (Minutes of 20 March 2018, Minutes of 24 April 2018, Minutes of 10 July 2018, Minutes of 20 August 2018)
  • Our first Consultation Workshop looked at the proposed play facilities, and we've met with a number of local groups to discuss their concerns Download the minutes for the Play Consultation Meeting (PDF)
  • Our second Consultation Workshop focused on the landscape Download the minutes of the  Landscape Consultation Workshop meeting (PDF)
  • Our third Consultation Workshop considered the plans for the café Download the minutes of the Cafe Consultation Workshop meeting  (PDF)