X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Syon House


Acacia suaveolens

The species was first formally described by English botanist James Edward Smith in 1791 in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London He described it with reference to a cultivated plant at Syon House which had been raised by Thomas Hoy from seed that originated from New South Wales.

Beefeater Gin

A super premium version of Beefeater was launched in Syon House on 30 October 2009.

Callistemon citrinus

Callistemon citrinus had become established in cultivation in England by 1794 when flowering plants that were more than five years old had been observed at both Kew Gardens and Syon House and younger plants had become available in nurseries.

Syon House

It was one of the wealthiest nunneries in the country and a local legend recalls that the monks of Sheen had a Ley tunnel running to the nunnery at Syon.


Duke of Northumberland's River

The eastern section diverts water from the River Crane, London in Kneller Gardens Whitton, north-eastwards past The Stoop and Twickenham Stadium, through Isleworth, originally to the Mill then onwards to supply the ornamental ponds in the Duke of Northumberland's estate at Syon Park.

Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland

After succeeding to the Dukedom on the death of his father, 11 October 1988, he was noted for planting many trees at Syon House, the Ducal residence at Brentford; for an unsuccessful foray into film-making involving the Duke in front of and behind the camera; for a relationship with Naomi Campbell's mother Valerie; and for excessive and adventurous drug taking.


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