Syon Park
History
Syon was the site of Sion Abbey, which was founded in 1415 and named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem. It was dissolved in 1539. Foundations of the abbey were discovered in 2003. Landscaping of the gardens in the middle of the eighteenth century have left them with a collection of rare trees and plants and a lake which has a population of terrapins. The Great Conservatory, built in 1826 to a design by Charles Fowler, was the first to be built out of cast iron.
In 1609, Thomas Harriot was working at Syon when he made the first ever use of the newly invented telescope to make astronomical drawings of the moon on 26 June, several months ahead of Galileo's observations. A plaque commemorating Harriot can be found in the grounds, not far from where the observations took place.
Flood meadows
The Tide Meadow next to the Thames is a 21.5-hectare (53-acre) SSSI. It is a tall wet meadow of reed-grasses, with rye-grass and meadow-grass on higher ground. There are many small ditches, and it is used by many over-wintering birds and has a number of rare invertebrate species, including uncommon flies.
Access
Access is from Park Road. The park is open for an admission charge in the summer and closed in the winter.
See also
References
- ^ "Syon Park". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ Historic England. "Syon Park (1000148)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Syon Park". London Parks and Gardens Trust. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ Vandenbrouck, Melanie; Barford, Megan; Devoy, Louise; Dunn, Richard, eds. (2019). The Moon. London: Collins. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-00-828246-2.
- ^ "Syon Park citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Map of Syon Park". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 15 December 2014.