Grade I listed observatory where George III watched the Transit of Venus, set in over 6.5 acres of Richmond’s Old Deer Park.

Commissioned by King George III and completed in 1769, this unique Grade I listed building stands within Richmond’s historic Old Deer Park, adjoining the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Sir William Chambers designed it so the King and Queen Charlotte could assemble in its cupola to observe the Transit of Venus. That cupola remains the earliest surviving example of its type. Approached by its own sweeping serpentine drive, the house was restored in 2018 to create a home of over 7,300 sq ft. Magnificent double staircases in Portland stone approach the house from north and south. At its heart are two interconnecting octagonal rooms extending through two storeys: the entrance hall with its mezzanine gallery, and the library. The library’s ceilings reach 4.82m, and its original Georgian glazed shelving has space for approximately 6,000 volumes. A triple-aspect drawing room with 4.72m ceilings leads to the library. The principal dining room is decorated with hand-painted Chinese silk panels reproducing a view of Canton in 1772. The first floor holds two principal bedroom suites, each with an ensuite dressing room and marble-tiled bathroom, and a staircase rises to the original working cupola. The lower-ground floor holds the kitchen and breakfast room, a family and television room and two further double bedroom suites. An Otis lift serves all three floors, and modern services include Crestron, underfloor heating and Daikin air conditioning. Planning permission has been granted for further development. Phase One includes an as-yet unbuilt staff cottage. Phase Two would add approximately 10,000 sq ft below ground, connected to the house through the historic vaults, with staff quarters and parking for up to 17 cars. The surrounding landscape, partly a Scheduled Monument, has been sensitively restored by Kim Wilkie to reinterpret Capability Brown’s original features. The grounds include an ornamental lake, an Umbrian-style boathouse in Portland stone and the listed nineteenth-century anti-magnetic huts. Two obelisks erected in 1778 to mark the Prime Meridian still stand to the north and south of the house, and a private helipad completes the estate.Show more

Property Highlights

• Grade I listed observatory by Sir William Chambers with its original working cupola
• Interconnecting octagonal entrance hall and library rising through two storeys
• Library with original Georgian glazed shelving for approximately 6,000 volumes
• Dining room with hand-painted Chinese silk panels depicting Canton in 1772
• Consented extension of approximately 10,000 sq ft with underground parking for up to 17 cars
• Approximately 6.59 acres with ornamental lake, boathouse, Meridian obelisks and helipad