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Syon House is a grand mansion set in forty acres of gardens in Brentford Middlesex. Syon was originally the site of a medieval abbey, named after Mount Zion in the Holy Land. The abbey was visited by Catherine of Aragon. But during Henry VIII's break with Rome, the abbey was dissolved, and its stubborn Father Confessor, Richard Reynolds, executed.
After the abbey's suppression the estate was sold to the 1st Duke of Somerset, lord protector of Henry VIII's young son Edward VI. Somerset built Syon House over foundations of the west end of the abbey church. When Somerset was executed in 1552 Syon was acquired by his rival John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland who became Edward's second unofficial, and self serving lord protector. Dudley's son had married Lady Jane Grey, the great grand-daughter of Henry VII. It was at Syon that a tearful and reluctant Jane was offered the crown, and persuaded to accept it. Nine days later she was displaced by Mary Tudor.
Syon House and Park have been used during the making of many films including The Madness of King George, The Wings of the Dove, The Golden Bowl, Emma, and Gosford Park.
Address: Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8JF
Opening Times: Syon House is open from 16th March to 30th October on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, bank holiday Mondays, Good Friday and Easter Saturday 11am - 5pm. The gardens are open 10.30am - 5pm, last admission 4pm.
The gardens are open weekends only until March 6th 10.30am - 4pm, and then open daily from 12th March 10.30am - 5pm.
Miniature steam train rides are available in the park on Sundays during the summer and on some bank holidays.
Directions: Syon House is beside the Thames off the A315 in Brentford Middlesex. Click here for an interactive map centred on Syon House.
Access: there is no wheelchair access in the house. Adapted toilet facilities are available.
Contact:
telephone: 020 8560 0882
fax: 020 8568 0936
e-mail: info@syonpark.co.uk