Popes Grotto - Virtual Tour
Welcome to Popes Grotto
Alexander Pope, poet, satirist, translator and pioneer of landscape gardening
came to live here by the river in Cross Deep, Twickenham.
On arrival he immediately began to construct his Palladian villa, by the river
and on the other side of the main road that passed his house he leased 5 acres of land to landscape a garden on.
The grotto, built in the brick basement of the villa was developed until he died in 1744
It included a tunnel under Cross Deep enabling a stooping Alexander Pope to access his gardens from the house without having to cross the road
In 1739 inspired by the geology at the Hotwells Spa in Bristol he further embellished his grotto with ores, spars, crystals and quartz - to become his museum of mining and geology
In the central chamber Pope would sit and muse over poetic thoughts with quill pen in hand enjoying the sunlight reflected from the river about 100 feet beyond.
There are also 2 other chambers in the grotto
The south chamber has an Parkinsonia ammonite cast above the archway. And a large mother amethyst
In the north chamber is an imposing statue of St James of Compostela . His hat displays his emblem, a scallop shell.
To find out more about this unique hidden gem pleas visit our website www.popesgrotto.org.uk