Twickenham, London, Greater London, England, TW1 3RZ, United Kingdom
Pope’s Grotto Preservation Trust is a registered charity, which was established in 2014 to support the restoration, conservation and maintenance of Pope’s Grotto. The Grade II* listed grotto is all that remains of a once-famous Palladian villa and gardens created by Alexander Pope on the banks of the River Thames at Twickenham. It is loaded with significance for British culture and for the birth of the English landscape garden movement.
The trust is a grassroots heritage organisation governed by an entirely voluntary board of trustees, supported by an enthusiastic band of volunteer guides. It raises substantial funds to support grotto restoration, conservation and maintenance, as well as the trust’s extensive education and community engagement programmes.
In November 2023, following a 10-year restoration and conservation project led by Donald Insall Architects, the grotto was removed from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register after more than 20 years.
The project was awarded the 2024 Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award, which recognises the highest standards of historic building conservation and has been Shortlisted for the RICS 2024 Awards. The 2024 programme of Open Days and other events commences on Saturday 18th May.