Old Deer Park

Have you ever strolled through a park with a rich history of royalty and sport? Old Deer Park, right here in Richmond, holds a fascinating story of kings and queens, deer and golf. This expansive park, once a royal hunting ground, is now a vibrant mix of nature and leisure. Imagine the scene in the early 17th century. King James I, wanting to expand his hunting grounds, added monastic land to the existing park, creating a sprawling space for his royal hunts. This area became known as “The New Park of Richmond”, and we are standing on its historic grounds today. But how did it get the name “Old Deer Park”? Well, in 1637, King Charles I, James’ son, established a much larger park on the other side of Richmond, calling it Richmond Park. This act made the original park “old”, hence the name. Today, Old Deer Park, spanning 360 acres, is home to the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, which has occupied its grounds since 1892. Here, amidst two 18-hole courses, stands the Grade I listed King’s Observatory, a symbol of George III’s scientific spirit, established in 1769. It was even used to align telescopes to observe a rare transit of Venus across the sun in the same year. The park also holds a secret. Buried beneath the fairway of the outer golf course are the foundations of the former Carthusian Sheen Priory, founded in 1414 by Henry V. It is a quiet reminder of an earlier chapter in this historical space. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh air, listen to the rustling leaves, and imagine the echoes of history.