Building at risk: the future of Twyford Abbey and its grounds is yet to be decided (© Simon Rodway)
Twyford Abbey
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By Sara O‘Reilly
Posted: Mon Aug 13 2007 -
Simon Rodway tells Time Out how he got drawn into the battle to preserve Twyford Abbey, a forgotten west London stately home that‘s been in development limbo for over a decade
There are few things more satisfying than discovering an intriguing new aspect of your home patch, which is why Blue Badge guide Simon Rodway was pretty pleased with himself when he stumbled across Twyford Abbey in west London’s Park Royal.
‘It must be the last grand house left with its core gardens still intact anywhere near central London,’ says Rodway, who discovered the building when – ever keen to increase his knowledge of the local area – he was peering through the wire fence on Twyford Abbey Road. Across a stretch of overgrown grassland and lawns, he caught a glimpse of battlements and 200-year-old cedars of Lebanon – and decided to do some research.
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As Rodway subsequently learned, the building has been unoccupied since 1991. It’s Grade II-listed, along with its walled kitchen gardens, but it’s on English Heritage’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ register, its condition officially described as ‘poor’.
Despite its name, Twyford Abbey was never an abbey at all. In the Middle Ages, there was a manor house with a small private chapel on the site. Around 1715, the house was partially demolished and the chapel rebuilt and, in the early nineteenth century, it was sold to Thomas Willan, a wealthy coachbuilder. In 1807 Willan employed the architect William Atkinson to remodel the place in the fashionable gothic style. Atkinson designed an extension around the house, filled in the genuine medieval moat and altered the church. It was Willan who chose the name Twyford Abbey and the pseudo-monastic association was strengthened when, in 1902, the place was bought by the Alexian Brothers. This 700-year-old Roman Catholic order ran a nursing home in the building until changes in the rules for such premises resulted in its closure in 1988.
Eight years later, developers bought the site for £2.67 million, intending to convert it into a hotel and leisure complex. That plan was shelved because of Department of Transport objections to the developers’ plans for road access. The new owners subsequently applied for planning permission to restore the listed building, turn it into apartments and build additional residential units in the grounds. Permission was again refused on the grounds that the scheme was too big and involved building on land designated Metropolitan Open Land, which is protected in the same way as Green Belt land.
There was also the issue of the birds and the bats. Old oak trees in the grounds provide nesting sites for birds, and possibly roosting sites for bats. And there are poplars, sycamores and walnut trees as well as the cedars of Lebanon that originally caught Rodway’s attention. The grounds have Site of Special Scientific Interest status and all the trees are covered by a tree preservation order.
Subsequent planning proposals involving different combinations of residential units in the house and grounds have also been turned down. However, the building is deteriorating in condition. Rodway has been given permission on several occasions to take a group from the Park Royal Partnership (a local association of private companies, public bodies and charities) into the grounds of Twyford Abbey and was able to go into the building briefly, a week after June’s heavy rainfall, and reports that the interior has taken a lot of water damage.
‘The future of this remarkable survivor is very uncertain,’ he says, ‘The developers now don’t know what to do with their historic white elephant. His fear is that the local council will ‘wave the white flag and say, “You can develop the old building as apartments”’. In his opinion, Twyford Abbey and its grounds would be of much greater value to the local community preserved intact. He’d rather see the house (‘pure Jane Austen’) being used for location filming, conferences, weddings and banqueting. ‘The grounds could benefit the kids from the neighbouring school and give the Park Royal area, which was once famous for the massive Guinness factory, a tremendous boost. Twyford Abbey is too unique a survivor to lose. Preserved it would be another west London front-rank heritage attraction to rival Pitshanger Manor and Fulham Palace.’
A bit of digging reveals that Ealing Council is now looking at a new proposal, currently at pre-planning-application stage, to refurbish and restore the house and develop part of the grounds. It’s been drawn up under English Heritage’s pragmatic Enabling Development process, which allows developers to make money by building on protected land in order to generate funds to renovate crumbling listed buildings. If Ealing decides against recommending the latest scheme it will be serving the owners with an Urgent Repair Notice, which means that they will be obliged to take some measures to prevent Twyford Abbey from deteriorating further while its fate is decided.- Add your comment to this feature
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28 comments
I WORKED AT PARK ROYAL AMBULANCE STATION AND WE USE TO PICK UP PATIENTS FROM THE ABBEY OR BRING THEM BACK FROM HOSPITAL AND IT WAS THE MOST RELAXING PLACE A PATIENT COULD BE CARED FOR THE ALEXIAN BROTHERS WERE GREAT.I REMEMBER HAS YOU DROVE UP TO THE FRONT DOOR THERE WAS BEAUTIFUL BIG TREE'S IT WAS SO TRANQUIL IT WAS SUCH A SHAME WHEN IT CLOSED. WHAT A SHAME IT IS FALLING TO BITS IT WILL ALWAYS STAY IN MY MIND AS A WONDERFUL PART OF WEST LONDON.
I am a policeman. A few days ago I was called to the abbey because a number of burglars had gained access to the roof to steal the lead. Fortunately we managed to catch them. The building was searched as much as possible. There are collapsed staircases (including the main staircase at the front door) and collapsed floors everywhere and once beautiful wall art is slowly being destroyed by mould and damp. The building is being stripped of its copper piping and leaded glass too by thieves. I found it quite eerie and sad that such a once grand place is now effectively only a couple of years from complete collapse.
I remember as a child seeing the Abbey from my bathroom window and being so captivated by its presence. There are too many fond childhood memories of myself, my brother, and cousins, exploring the grounds and trying to get inside the building. *sigh* I'd love to be involved in preserving it. I hope the developers spend their money wisely.
hello does anybody know who owns it currently and if access is allowed? thanks
I made a film about Twyford Abbey. It's now on English Heritage's At RIsk Register:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa815e_in-search-of -twyford-abbey_news
My Grandparents lived in the Gate House at Twyford Abbey from about 1910 onwards and my grandfather played the organ in the chapel on Sundays. He was a watchmaker working in Notting Hill. I remember the cottage rather dimly as I last saw it in 1939 with my mother - we used to visit my grandparents quite often from Wembley. The whole congregation was evacuated to Llys Dulas in Anglesey at the outbreak of war and my grandfather died there in November 1940 which, of course, ended our direct links with the Abbey. Some of the persons who died whilst evacuated are buried in Amlwch Cemetary.
Just today I found a letter from my Grandfather from Twyford Abbey to my Grandmother. This would be the last week of May 1921. I would seem Granddad had charge of the kitchen for that week which prevented him being home for my mother's first birthday. If this was a nursing home run the Alexian Order how would my Grandfather have been employed there? His name was Clement Amos and I know in 1919 he was still in the East Surrey Regiment, he might still have been in the service in 1920-21. Would this facility have been used for wounded soldiers?
I moved into the area, around 5 years ago and noticed the alluring building in the distance, what history, it is a shame that this listed buidling, is being left to crumble.I too agree, that this fine historical building could be the making of park royal...hanger lane. As stated earlier, hanger lane is in need of an attractive land mark, such as the manner house. Its a win win situation, if this area is developed and the manor house restored. I unfortunately feel swamped by constant traffic, concrete and industrial units. If for only a miracle, for the manor houseand grounds to be restored, this would bring so much positive energy to the area.
Would like to make contact with peter Willan.
Thankyou. Douglas Willan family are of interest to our family.
I was born in Twyford Abbey, October 1932 and lived for the next 25 years on the Abbey Estate.Most of the area, and busnesses were named in connection to the Abbey, I recall the farm in the war years with cows and sheep, and the early morning bell for prayers. I am only one of thousands that have that close association. Long may it continue to thrive in a manner for the local people as it has in the past.
Isabella Maria Douglas-Willan was my GGG grandmother and I would love to have any photos or info on her or contacts with Willan family.
Thanks Lilian
Yes this is a treasure,perhaps it could be developed as a park,is there any community organization that could spearhead such an idea,I live in New York but I have fond memories of Twyford Abbey and the Guinness cows grasing in the close bye fields,Chris
I work close by this fine building and its such a shame to see it like it is. I think the owners should be made to restore it or all will soon be lost and the council will just give in to developers in search of a quick profit like so many other. This area is so built up and in need of something nice to look. There is little else in the area apart from industrial units and heavy traffic use.
Thomas Willan who re-modelled the building in 1807 was an ancestor and the history of his life and others at that time has been of interest to me for many years. Hopefully, the historical interest in Twyford Abbey can be preserved.
To: Brother Barry Butler
Thank you so much for this information. I'm sure this is my father. I would like to be in contact to learn anything more I can about my father whilst he was in Twyford Abbey. I recall the immensely kind care he received. My email address is michaelvizard@aol.com
Thank you.