Car parking The following prices will be charged from 1 April 2025, only prices that are changing are listed here. Car parking charges Up to 1 hour: £1.40 Up to 2 hours: £2.60 Up to 3 hours: £4 Up to 4 hours: £5.25

< Back to What's On Lee Valley Vampires vs Basingstoke Bison Cheer on Lee Valley Vampires at their home game Date: 17 April Time: 16:30 Lee Valley Ice Centre Location: See the fixtures > Cheer on the Lee Valley Vampires as they battle through the ladies Ice Hockey League. Previous Next

Lee Valley Marina Stanstead Abbotts The following prices will be charged from 1 April 2025, only prices that are changing are listed here. Moorings (prices are per metre, per month) Marina: £22.50 Hard standing (large boats): £19.20 Hard standing (medium boats): £18.20 Hard standing (small boats): £15.10 Rye House: £17.80 Late payment of mooring fees: £45.50 Temporary visitor mooring: Marina (max one week stay): £42.50 (per 24 hours) Hardstanding and Rye House (max three month stay): £31.10 (prices are per metre, per month) Craning Single lift: from £250 Double lift: from £480 Crane off lorry and cost for wide beam: from £380 Survey: £550 Storage Caravan: £72.520 (per month) Undercover: £170 (additional monthly charge onto of mooring cost) Boat trailer: £255 (per year) Admin charge for formal letters for non-compliance with agreements: £35

Nature's Magic Distance: 2 miles Terrain: surfaced pathways including a small section of cobbles, wooden boardwalk, grass pathway and several bridges Starting point: Waterworks Centre car park Lammas Road, off Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London E10 7NU Download route narrative > At at glance information for this route Great for picnics Parking available Public transport closeby Route - running Route - walking A route to discover a magical secret garden packed with history. The route follows the pathways through the WaterWorks Centre and Middlesex Filter Beds nature reserves. Directions Proceed to the right of the WaterWorks Centre building Turn immediately right and proceed across the grey bridge over the Flood Relief Channel onto the nature reserve Follow the pathway, passing the wildflower meadow on the left and the Wildlife Garden on the right Proceed along the path. (There is a short detour into a filter bed along a boardwalk on the left) leading to the bird hide and wildlife and heritage information panels Retrace the route along the pathway crossing the grey bridge back towards the WaterWorks Centre building At the end of the bridge, turn right along the pathway, following the fence line Turn right at the end of the tree line onto the surfaced pathway and continue along the edge of the grass area Turn left across Friends Bridge over the River Lea onto Hackney Marshes Continue ahead on the surfaced path, in a southerly direction Turn right onto the grass path and proceed to the black double gates at the entrance of the Middlesex Filter Beds Continue through the gates and follow the pathway around the edge of the site, passing wildlife and heritage information panels to ‘Natures Throne’ artwork and the weir at the western edge. Return through the middle of the beds and follow the path Turn right and exit the Middlesex Filter Beds through the black gates and retrace the route back to the WaterWorks Centre building Things to note Public transport links: The closest station is Lea Bridge Buses run along Lea Bridge Road Plan your journey with Transport for London There are currently no car parking charges at the WaterWorks Centre car park The site is within the Ultra Low Emissions Zone Dogs are not permitted in the WaterWorks Centre nature reserve Previous Next

Frequently asked questions Lee Valley campsites Got a question? We’re here to answer! If you can’t find the info you’re looking for please contact us. Contact details Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite, Broxbourne almostwild@leevalleypark.org.uk 03000 030 619 Link to page > Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone sewardstonecampsite@leevalleypark.org.uk 03000 030 623 Link to page > Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton edmontoncampsite@leevalleypark.org.uk 03000 030 625 Link to page > Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobbs Weir dobbsweircampsite@leevalleypark.org.uk 03000 030 619 Link to page > These FAQs cover our Edmonton, Sewardstone and Dobbs Weir sites. For Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite FAQs, click here. Bookings Is it necessary to book? We recommend you book in advance, especially in the busy summer months and school holidays, as we’re unable to guarantee availability. We do not take on the day bookings. Can I book a specific pitch? Sorry, no. Pitches are allocated at point of booking. Do I need a deposit to secure my booking? A deposit of £20 is required at the time of booking. Full payment for your booking is due five days prior to your arrival, you’ll receive a reminder. If your arrival is within four days of your booking date you’ll need to pay the full amount at the time of booking. What methods of payment do you accept? We accept cash and all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and Electron. We do not accept American Express. Do you allow commercial vehicles onsite? There are restrictions on the type of commercial vehicles allowed onto site. They must not exceed 2m in height, 5.5m in length and payload of 1,100kg. If you want to check that your vehicle is allowed onsite please speak to us before booking. Do you allow visitors? Yes. Guests are welcome to visit you during your stay at our campsites. There’s a small charge for each adult guest and all guests must report to Reception on arrival. Guests are required to leave the campsite by 22:00. Cancellations and refunds Is there a charge for cancelling my booking? If you cancel your booking, you’ll lose your non-refundable booking deposit. Can we get a refund if we leave early if the weather is bad? Sorry, no. We don't offer refunds for early departures. How can we get a refund? We currently don't offer refunds but we can transfer your booking to an alternative date, if availability allows. Arrivals and departures What time can I check in? You can check in any time after 15:00 (departure times are 11:00). What is the latest I can arrive on site on arrival day? You can arrive any time after 15:00. If you arrive outside of our reception opening hours you'll be sent an email with all the details of how to access the site and accommodation. Reception times at our Dobbs Weir and Sewardstone sites are: Monday - Saturday 08:30 - 18:00, Sunday 08:30 - 16:00. Reception times at our Edmonton site are: Monday - Saturday 08:00 - 18:00, Sunday 08:30 - 16:00. What time do I need to leave on my departure day? For all touring and camping pods we ask guests to leave by 11:00 on the day of departure. If you’d like to delay your departure time, please check with Reception to see if there’s availability - this is subject to an additional charge. Is the campsite barrier locked, restricting access? Vehicle access to the sites is via a security gate or barrier that's operated by a code, this code will be emailed to you in your welcome letters - please follow any additional instruction such as needing to change the code once you've arrived. What should we do if we leave before Reception is open? If you’re staying in a holiday lodge or camping pod please deposit the keys in the key safe attached to the unit, or in the returned keys box outside Reception. Parking at our campsites Parking Eye car park management system – do you need my car registration number? Our site’s car parks are monitored by Parking Eye. Customers should supply their vehicle registration number when making their booking, if you fail to do this you should add your registration number using the table in reception by 10:00 the following morning after your check in. Will you have my car registration number from the booking that I made? If you've booked directly with us and provided your registration number when you booked then this is automatically uploaded to the parking management system. If you booked via a third party, for example, Hoseasons or Pitchup, they should provide your details, however, to be sure just pop into reception and we can confirm we have all the necessary details. What do I need to do if I have a visitor coming to site? If you've booked to have visitors onsite car parking fees are included within the booking. All they need to do is pop into reception when they arrive and enter their car registration details into the system – our staff will be on hand to help. What happens if I arrive after Reception has closed – will I need to pay car parking? If you’ve booked online and included your car registration details these will be automatically added to the system. If you haven’t given these details, please email the site with your booking reference number and car registration. How many cars are included in each accommodation booking type Touring and camping pitches: one car unless reception has been advised Cabins, Cocoons, Big Chief, Wee Brave Wigwams and Peaky Pods: one car Safari tents: maximum of two cars Holiday lodges and cottages: two cars If you have more cars onsite than detailed for the accommodation you’ve booked you’ll need to contact reception and register the vehicle. I tow an additional car with my unit - do I need to register this too? All car registrations that come onto site will need to be registered, please pop into reception and they can help you register additional vehicles. Do I need to register daily? No, your details will be automatically set up for the duration of your stay. What if I wish to extend my stay? If you extend your stay, you can either book on line or in reception and your parking will be extended. What if I arrive late and reception is closed? You'll receive a late arrival email from us which will contain a link, please complete the details requested on this link. Otherwise register your vehicle by 10:00 the next morning and reception will upload your car registration details. What do I do if I arrive in a different vehicle than the one registered on my booking? Contact Reception as early as possible and they can make the changes needed. What if I want to order a takeaway for delivery? There is a 10 minute dwell time after entering the site so the delivery driver needs to be made aware of this – we suggest meeting your driver at the main gate. Specific information for our holiday home owners I'm a carer for a holiday home owner and will not be on site until after reception is closed? So long as you register the vehicle by 10:00 the following day you will be exempt from a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). I'm expecting friends and family to visit what should I do? You can pre-register your friends and family’s arrival with reception who’ll enter the details. What do I need to do for my car that I have on site? All holiday home owners who have pre-registered their vehicle are exempt and will be issued with parking permit for that vehicle. I have purchased an additional parking bay on the holiday home field, what do I need to do? If you already have a second parking bay the registered vehicle will also be issued with a parking permit. General information Are there any campsite rules? Yes. You can read our campsite rules here. Does the site have WiFi? Yes, the site offers FREE WiFi to all its visitors. Are there any EV charging points onsite? Our Dobbs Weir site has four EV charging points available in the main car park plus The Country and The Lee View luxury holiday lodges also have charging points too. If staying in a luxury lodge the charging costs are included in your fees. For the chargers in the general car park just scan the QR on the side which will take you to the Monta website and follow the instructions - the costs are clearly displayed on the site. Vehicles must only be charged in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and that only EVs with Original-Equipment- Manufacturers’ (OEM) factory-fitted batteries should be charged (the only exception is where OEM-approved compatible replacement batteries have been fitted by a competent person). Is there fishing onsite? Dobbs Weir allow fishing however, you must hold a valid fishing licence. There’s a closed season for river fishing from 16 March until 16 June each year. How good is the television reception onsite? TV reception is good. Do you allow contractors? We allow a limited number of contractors to stay on our site. Are camp fires and BBQs allowed? Open fires or the burning of fallen logs aren’t permitted onsite. Small charcoal burning BBQs are allowed, however they must be raised off the ground and not on wooden tables or decking and extinguished by 22:00. We also have fire pits and BBQs that can be hired from Reception who also sell specialist logs for burning in the fire pits. Can I park my car next to the touring pitch or camping pods? In most cases the pitches are big enough to park your vehicle next to your pitch. Each camping pod and lodge have their own parking bays. What is your noise policy? We ask for quiet between 23:00 - 08:00. Please respect other campers who may be trying to sleep. All our sites are a family orientated and we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour or language. Anyone causing a disturbance will be asked to leave and no refund will be given. Do you have accessible facilities on site? We have accessible toilet and shower facilities onsite, please advise us when making your booking if you require the use of these facilities so we can allocate you as close as possible. Do you need a key to use the accessible bathrooms on site? It varies depending on what site you’re staying at: Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobb Weir – the bathrooms are unlocked 24/7 Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone – the facilities have a Radar key for access Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton – the facilities require a key which can be obtained from reception. When you check in please let the team know you’d like to use these facilities and they’ll sort a key out for the duration of your stay. Please note a fully refundable deposit may be requested for the key Is your site wheelchair accessible? None of our sites are wheelchair accessible all year round. If you or any of your party have a disability or complex needs of any description, please contact the site and we’ll try to make arrangements to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. What’s included when you book a cabin or cocoon? All of our cabins and cocoons come with beds and have electricity and lighting. You'll need to bring your own bedding and linen, we don’t hire out sleeping bags, bedding, linen, towels or tea towels. Only cabins have cooking equipment. What is included when you book a Wigwam? All of our Wigwams are heated and have electricity. You'll need to bring your own bedding and linen. We don’t hire out sleeping bags, bedding, linen, towels or tea towels. What is included when you book a safari tent? Our pre-pitched safari tents come with most of what you need for your stay. You'll need to bring your own bedding and linen. We don't hire out sleeping bags, bedding, linen, towels or tea towels. Is there anything I need to know if using the hot tubs that's included at some of the accommodation? Some of our holiday lodges and homes have hot tubs available for visitors to use. If using a hot tub before you get into the water, please have a quick look at our guidelines of what we need to do before entering the tub, this can be found next to the hot tub and in the welcome book. Our team MUST carry out tests on the water quality twice a day (normally about 09:00 and 16:00) please note if the water quality if outside of the permitted readings the tub will be shut down and not available for use, until satisfactory readings are again achieved. Our onsite team will of course keep you informed of any changes to test times or work needed on the unit. Do you provide towel hire? Sorry, no. You'll need to bring your own towels and tea towels, unless you're staying in a lodge, holiday home or Peaky Pod at Dobbs Weir or Sewardstone. These come with bedding, towels and tea towels. Do you have caravans or tent for hire? No we don’t hire caravans or tents, however we do have a number of safari tents, camping and glamping pods, lodges and holiday cottages that can be hired. Can I hire camping equipment, travel cots or sleeping bags? We have a limited number of travel cots for hire but these will need to be requested at time of booking. We do not hire out sleeping bags or camping equipment, however our shops do stock some basic camping equipment that you can purchase. Can I hire cooking utensils? Sorry, no. Can I buy gas bottles from the site? Our Sewardstone sites stocks a range butane and propane gas bottles in a variety of sizes. Prices are available direct from the site (03000 030 623). This is our only site that stocks gas bottles. How can we pay the toll charge for the Dartford crossing? We recommend you pay this online before you start your journey. Can we have grocery shopping delivered to the site? Sorry, no. Deliveries of shopping to the site aren't permitted, however the site has a small shop stocking a range of products and there are also supermarkets a short drive from the site. Are pets allowed onsite? We welcome well behaved dogs, but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Dogs must be kept in the caravan, motorhome or tent at night. No dog is to be left unattended outside a tent, caravan or motorhome. We restrict this to a maximum of two dogs per pitch. Are dogs allowed in the camping pods? We have a few dog friendly safari tents, cabins, cocoons, Wigwams, lodges and glamping pods available, please request at time of booking if you need one of these to be allocated to you. This is essential as there's limited availability. Please note ther's an additional charge for dogs. Are there specific dog walking areas? Dobbs Weir has a riverside walk where dogs can be walked but must be kept on a lead. Sewardstone has a woodland walk which leads to Gunpowder Park and the River Lee where dogs are welcome. We just insist dogs are kept on leads at all times and kept out of the children's play area. Owners must clear up after their dogs Edmonton has a pathway down to the river which makes an ideal dog walk. Dogs must not be walked on the golf course Is there somewhere local to eat or drink? Almost Wild: a parade of shops is located about one mile from site in Broxbourne. This includes a bakers, butchers, off licence, pharmacy and a small supermarket Dobbs Weir : there is a very good cafe close to site and The Fish and Eels pub is also within walking distance from the site. Both are across the bridge Edmonton : The Navigation Inn is about a 15 – 20 minute walk away. If travelling by car the postcode is EN3 4XX Sewardstone: The Plough is within walking distance from the site and is open from 11:00. For breakfast or lunch there is also a very good cafe close to site Are there any local takeaways that deliver to the site? There are a number of takeaways that deliver to site. Can you buy drinks and food at the site? Our licensed site shop stocks a range of food and drink to buy. With the exception of Almost Wild where there’s no shop. Do you have the details of a local taxi company? Almost Wild : Broxbourne Station Cars Ltd - 01992 464 007 Dobbs Weir : Broxbourne Station Cars Ltd - 01992 464 007 Edmonton : Nightingale Cars – 020 8350 6147 Sewardstone : Mount Cars – 020 8529 111 or 01992 631 631 Getting out and about in the area Can I hire bikes from the site? Yes our Edmonton, Sewardstone and Dobbs Weir sites offer bike hire, you can book this when you do your initial booking or pop into reception to book during your stay. Do holiday makers get discount on golf at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton? Yes anyone staying at the site can received 10% off a round of golf – just pop into reception to book. Golf clubs are available to hire. What attractions and places are near to the campsite to visit? There’ll be information supplied in your welcome letter. To find out more about other Lee Valley Regional Park attractions go to visitleevalley.org.uk or when onsite pop into Reception, where you'll find whole host information on the attractions in the area. How far is the site from central London? Almost Wild is approximately 50 minutes away from central London via Broxbourne Station. Dobbs Weir is about 50 minutes away from central London. Broxbourne Station is a 35 minute walk along the canal or a 10 minute drive from the site. You can get a free parking pass for Broxbourne Riverside car park, which is close to the station. Just ask at Reception. Edmonton is about 50 minutes away. The easiest way to travel to central London is to take the train from Edmonton Green straight into London Liverpool Street. Sewardstone is a bus and train ride from central London. Catch the 215 bus, which runs all year round and calls at the site regularly. Every 20 minutes Monday – Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays. The bus takes you to Walthamstow Central, from there you can take the trains into central London. Where’s the nearest overground train station? Almost Wild : nearest station is Broxbourne, around a 20 minute walk from site Dobbs Weir : nearest train station is Broxbourne, which is a 10 minute drive or 35 minute walk along the canal. Each visitor receives a free car parking pass for Broxbourne Riverside car park which is close to the station, just ask at Reception Edmonton : nearest station is Edmonton Green which runs into London Liverpool Street in central London Sewardstone : nearest station is Chingford. There’s a bus stop outside the campsite where you can board a bus to Chingford Station What’s the most cost effective way to travel into London? There are a few ways to pay for any bus or train journey. It's worth noting that children aged 5 - 11 travel free of charge when accompanied by an adult on buses and underground trains plus some overground train routes are also free for a maximum of four children per adult. Please check tfl.gov.uk for more information. Contactless payment : just touch your contactless debit card at the payment points on the bus or at the train station and the system will automatically work out your journey costs for the whole day. Please note a separate debit card will be required for each person (who needs to pay for the journey) Oyster cards : available to purchase from any over or underground train station. These cards are valid throughout your stay and can be topped up as required Is the site within London's Low Emissions Zones Two of our sites, Sewardstone and Dobb Weir , are located outside of both the LEZ (Low Emission Zone) and ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) that's in place. Our Edmonton site is located within ULEZ and LEZ that's in place – if travelling to this site please check your vehicle compliance on the Transport for London website . Please also check your journey route to see if it enters either the LEZ or ULEZ as our Sewardstone site is very close to these zones. If you travel into London you may need to pay these charge and in central London there's also a Congestion Charging Zone. You can find out more about these zone on Transport for London's website . Please note these charges apply to non-UK registered vehicles too.

The Hamilton Book now > Special offer available Sleeps four people. Lovely, modern holiday lodge with two bedrooms and open plan living, dining and kitchen area. The no stress holiday option, with all the bits you need for a great break away. Hire BBQs, fire pits and bikes for your stay – see our holiday extras . This holiday lodge is dog friendly (maximum of two) please add them as an extra at time of booking. In the holiday lodge you’ll find: Two bedrooms: double bedroom; twin bedroom Open plan living area with seating and dining area Fully equipped kitchen Main family bathroom with bath with shower Cooking pans, utensils and kettle Dinnerware, cutlery, can opener, peeler and corkscrew Dedicated parking area next to lodge with EV charging point - charging costs are included in accommodation price The accommodation includes: Free WiFi Free WiFi (You can upgrade to superfast Wifi) Bedding and towels Welcome pack which complimentary tea, coffee and biscuit selection View image gallery to see this lodge in more detail. Holiday lodges are also available at: Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone Access guide If you need any more information on the accessibility of this accommodation please contact us. View floorplan in the gallery Parking : next to the holiday lodge with gravel surface, uneven ground Access to lodge : steps (with handrail) leading onto decked area Main entrance door : step over doorway lintel Outdoor space : decking directly accessed by patio doors. Around holiday lodge there’s grassed outdoor space with gravel parking area For accessibility information for our site and its facilities please see out listing on Access Able . Price The Hamilton: from £319 for a three night stay

< Back Three Mills Green Address : Three Mills Green, Three Mills Lane, London E3 3DU Site overivew A hidden gem in the heart of east London with fast direct links to central London. The flat events space with an amphitheatre style mound is ideal for music or theatrical events. Key venue information Size of hireable space : 23,600m² Surface: circular grass open space with hilly mounds around one side Utilities: none Availability: April - October Toilets: none Lighting: none Vehicle access: yes via Three Mills Lane Pedestrian access: via various access routes Public transport: good tube and bus connections within a five minute walk Car parking: none but has good public transport links Local Authority: London Borough of Newham Previous events and site hires Music festivals, capacity 8,000 Food festivals, capacity 6,000 School sports days Commercial filming Outdoor cinema Download site info sheet > Go to our Event Enquiry Form >

< Back to What's On Strength & Mobility Exercise – Lee Valley White Water Centre These sessions create an inclusive environment for individuals seeking to become more physically active Date: 21 December Time: 10:30 FREE Lee Valley White Water Centre Location: Book your space > These sessions are designed to enhance strength and mobility, improve circulation, and support overall wellbeing, particularly for older adults or those with lower fitness levels. The session features standing movements and floor/ mat work for participants who are able but also incorporates a chair for stability during standing exercises. Previous Next

< Back Electrical Stock enquiry Get the very best electrical equipment for your boat! Products we stock 12V Batteries Cable and connectors Fuse and circuit breaker panels Galvanic isolators Interior lighting Tunnel lights Generators Inverters and chargers Plugs and sockets Isolation switches Solar Audio visual equipment Just some of our brands Aten Blue Sea Systems Durite Lucas Mastervolt Maxview Sterling Power Victron Energy

< Back Partnerships and help with transport costs Our health and safety commitment > Contact us Teachers guide Essential information before your visit > We're always keen to build partnerships to engage different sectors of the community. Contact our team to discuss opportunities. Community Access Fund Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Community Access Fund aims to support schools, community groups and charities. We offer free transport for schools and free sessions to community groups to our park based sessions to engage with marginalised and underserved communities. Who can apply: you can apply if your organisation is a not-for profit, registered charity, voluntary or community organisation, company or school with a pupil premium over 20%. You must also be based in the Authority’s funding region of London, Hertfordshire or Essex.

Honorary Warden for Tottenham Marshes Department: Location: Working with: Time: Rangers service Tottenham Marshes Ranger Team South Flexible, no minimum time commitment Purpose Help promote the park and provide information to the public, ensuring visitors safe use and enjoyment of the park. As part of a team of volunteers, you will be the Regional Park's eyes and ears. Details of role To assist with patrol, monitoring and management of wildlife habitats and species consistent with the park’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). To assist the ranger serivce with monitoring and managing the safety and integrity of the Park’s natural and built areas. To report to rangers any issues, defects or problems, issues with locking/unlocking of park facilities and issues associated with infrastructure maintenance, security and safety. To inform the ranger service or Senior Responsible Officer of any on-site emergencies, including breaking of Park Byelaws. To act as on-site wardens and ambassadors providing general on-site assistance to park users. To assist with liaison with local community user groups and consultation initiatives. Personal attributes Should be of an active nature. Should have a friendly and approachable manner. Should have a good knowledge of the park. Have a basic knowledge of flora and fauna. Knowledge and experience of conservation management is helpful, but not necessary. What's in it for you An opportunity to gain experience of ranger work. An opportunity to develop knowledge about birds and wildlife. An opportunity to keep fit, healthy and active. General To carry out tasks in line with the Authority’s policies and procedures including: The Authority’s Health and Safety Policy The Authority’s Volunteer Policy Volunteer induction pack rules and regulations Undertake induction, training, and development consistent with your role. See more >

< Back to list 3. The Bowles Boys and the history of the house and the Bowles family 3. The Bowles Boys and the history of the house and the Bowles family Artist Name 00:00 / 06:12 The Bowles Boys Narrator: Peter Deering was seven when he first came to play here. Peter Deering: … as I lived just on the hill outside the gates here I used this garden and the fields around as the playground. MUSIC: Hide & Seek Rag (McConnell - ATV 8B 43) FADE IN AND UNDER Narrator: Bowles was happy for Peter and his local friends to come here and play games or fish. In winter, when the river and the lake froze over, they skated. Peter Deering: … All the equipment was kept in a cupboard under the stairs here, including the skates …And there was always a rush … to get the best bit of gear, especially if you could get Bowles’s own skates, which were permanently fixed to a pair of boots (otherwise you had to get a pair that you clamped onto your shoes). MUSIC: Up and end Narrator: But it was not all fun and games. The boys, usually about three of them, were put to use, helping out in the garden, as Peter remembers. Peter Deering: ... we would just come over anytime, morning or afternoon, and the drill was to come in, pull three weeds from the front drive here, which was a custom for everyone that came no matter who they were. SFX: A SINGLE WHISTLER Peter Deering: And we’d walk in the front door and whistle, and if Bowles was in the house he’d whistle back. and if he didn’t whistle back then we’d proceed into the garden, whistling until we heard a whistle back. And then we’d join in with whatever he was doing: weeding, replanting or just trying to find something. SFX: A SINGLE WHISTLER & A WHISTLED RESPONSE [……..] You’d walk though the garden with him and he’d say oh there’s such-and-such a thing here that should just be coming into bloom… and sure enough there would be… he always walked with his hands behind his back … And his coat, a raincoat generally, which had long torn strips hanging from it, tied up in a knot at the bottom and a slouchy, trilby hat. Generally he wore a pair of flannel trousers and a tweed jacket. He always wore… a bow tie. History of the House Narrator: Myddelton House was built in the early 19th century. By Victorian standards it is not large, although it does have some 25 rooms above ground level. The basement was big enough to fit a servants’ hall, a warren of domestic offices, the kitchen - with a huge double range, the butler’s pantry, scullery, day larder, poultry larder, boot room and wine cellar. Just imagine what it must have been like… SFX: Audio Montage of a busy household Each day, at dusk, it took two housemaids an hour to close the folding shutters. There was no gas or electricity – only oil lamps that had to be trimmed, polished and filled. Candlesticks were put out ready on the hall table. There were silver candlesticks for visitors, brass for family, and in the basement the servants’ used huge tin ones, called “dripping pans”. By the 1920’s, visitors to Myddelton House found themselves in a world where time seemed to have stood still for half a century. In fact, Bowles never had electricity put in here. And gas was only installed in the house after the Second World War, when the Austrian cook said she would not work here without it. After Bowles died in 1954, the contents of the house were sold at auction. The sale went on for three days! Although some paintings stayed within the family, many of Bowles’s finest water-colours are now housed at the Natural History Museum in Kensington and at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Library. The house and grounds were sold to The Royal Free Hospital and the London School of Pharmacy. Even though he is now long dead, visitors to Myddelton often note the warm atmosphere and say that it feels as if Bowles is still here. History of the Bowles Family Narrator: Bowles had Huguenot ancestors - the Garnaults – who lived in Bowling Green House, an Elizabethan building that stood near this site. The Garnaults settled in England in the late 17th century after they fled from religious persecution in France. They made their fortune as craftsmen jewellers and went on to use their wealth to buy controlling shares in the New River Company. At around the same time, the Bowles family were working as printers and publishers in St Paul’s Churchyard, in London. They produced maps, portraits and political cartoons - including William Hogarth’s famous series, The Rake’s Progress. The two families were united in February 1799, when Henry Carrington Bowles married Anne Garnault. Anne inherited the Bowling Green House Estate. She died in 1812, when she was only 41. After her death, and despite his success in business, Henry Carrington Bowles felt ashamed of being associated with “trade”,. And he wanted to escape his title: Mr Bowles of Bowling Green House! He demolished the Elizabethan house and replaced it with a smarter more imposing, fashionable, yellow brick residence. The new family home was named Myddelton House - after Sir Hugh Myddelton, the imaginative engineer who built the New River. A section of that river used to flow through the garden. < Last page Next page >