Teddington Park 20-22
Road: Teddington Park
Property: 20-22
(Nos. 18 to 24 were described by Mrs. E. Bromley in the Teddington Society Survey of the 1970s as "a large Victorian house with outbuildings and extensions, with rooms over carriage entrance to rear. Brick, slate roof, hexagonal bays and gable." These are now four dwellings as indicated by the numbering.)
The two houses nos. 20-22 formed the central part of a large Victorian mansion built in c. 1875. The house was originally known as Oak Lodge and stood in spacious grounds extending to the rear as far as the present-day car repair works in Waldegrave Road. At the time of its construction Teddington Park was called Blenheim Road. The name was only changed in 1907, apparently because of its Germanic associations. (It is difficult to see why, given that at the Battle of Blenheim the Duke of Marlborough achieved "a famous victory").
The house was erected by a builder who appears to have been active in the whole Teddington area; other houses in Teddington Park share features with nos. 20-22, and there are houses of a similar design in Uxbridge Road, Hampton Hill. During the first phase of its existence the house had a winter garden/billiard room extension to the left (now no. 18) and stables to the right (now no. 24). In 1931 it was divided up to form the present four separate residences.
The house is a good example of solid Victorian workmanship, and, after approaching 150 years of existence, shows no sign of subsidence or deterioration. Built for a wealthy tea merchant, the central part (no. 20) has generous bay windows, lofty rooms with fine mouldings on the ceilings, an imposing stairwell and, unusual for houses in this area, a cellar running from the front to the back of the house (no. 20). This cellar was used as an ARP command post during WW2. When the present owners bought the house there were still the remnants of a calling system in the attic, by which housemaids could be summoned from their quarters.
This page is part of the Directory of Buildings of Townscape Merit (BTMs) and Listed Buildings in Teddington assembled by the Planning and History Groups of The Teddington Society. Click on any photo for a higher resolution version. Copyright for the material on this page rests with the contributor.