Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for OATLANDS PARK

OATLANDS PARK, a chapelry in Walton-on-Thames parish, Surrey; adjacent to the E side of Weybridge, to Weybridge r. station, and to the river Thames at thoboundary with Middlesex, 3 miles S E by E of Chertsey. It has a post-office under Weybridge Station, and a goodhotel. A stately palace was built here by Henry VIII.; stood in a splendid park; was inhabited, at times, by Elizabeth; became a favourite residence of Anne of Denmark; was the scene of a gorgeous entertainment by her, to the Venetian ambassador Busino; under went numerous additions by Inigo Jones; was the birthplace, in 1640, of " Henry of Oatlands, " Duke of Gloucester, and youngest son of Charles I. and Henrietta Maria; and was destroyed in the civil wars of Charles I. The estate was given by Charles I. to Henrietta Maria; passed to Henry Jermyn, the Herberts, and the Earls of Lincoln, who afterwards became Dukes of Newcastle; was purchased in 1794, and much improved, by the Duke of York; changed hands again after the Duke of York'sdeath; and, inclusive of the greater part of the park, has, since about 1850, been broken into fragments, and let in lots for building. A mansion, near the site of Henry VIII.'s palace, was built, about the beginning oflast century, by the Earl of Lincoln; and was destroyedby fire, soon after going into possession of the Duke of York, in 1794. Another mansion was then commenced, by restoration and reconstruction; but great part of it was taken down after the Duke of York's death; and therest, with alterations and considerable additions, was converted into the Oaklands Park hotel, opened in 1858. A brick gateway in the garden-wall, and some remains of vaults in the grounds, are the only relics of Henry VIII. 's palace. A famous grotto, formed by the Duke of Newcastle, at a cost of about £40,000, is in the grounds of J. Drake, Esq.; was the scene of a luxurious petit souper, by George IV., when Prince of Wales, to a select party of his friends; and was a favourite retiring-room of the Duchess of York. About 60 monuments of the Duchess's favourite dogs stand around a circular basin, once a pond for gold fish, near the grotto. The acreage and the pop. of the chapelry have not been separately returned. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Winchester. Value, not reported. Patrons, Trustees. The church was built in 1862, at a cost of £2, 400; was opened in December 1867; is in the decorated English style; consists of nave, S aisle, and apsidal chancel; and contains 350 sittings.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a chapelry"   (ADL Feature Type: "countries, 4th order divisions")
Administrative units: Walton upon Thames AP/CP       Surrey AncC
Place: Oatlands

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