Brief Walking Post

The Margravina and I had our constitutional this morning, walking across Richmond Park to Petersham and the River Thames. We stopped off for hot drinks at the Hollyhocks cafe in Terrace Gardens. Surely one of, if not the, most beautiful spot to drink coffee in London.

We naturally had to pay our respects to the local deity.

The river is just beyond the grass

I love these roots. Looking like something out of Tolkien

This floral display, obviously dating from 5 months ago is still clear. Just beyond the hedge is the statue of Old Father Thames

The cafe

Fascinating explanation of the early industrial period of the site, before it was converted to a park. Maybe the clay quarrying explains the form of the landscape, which has some very steep banks in parts (see the picture of the roots above).

'Grotto' entrance to the park, from the riverside path. This runs under the main road in to Richmond from the Kingston direction.

The river rolling along down to the mighty sea.

Having crossed Petersham Meadows we looked in on the graveyard at St Peter's Church. The war memorial maintained by the CWGC

By my reckoning Captain Stuart was great nephew of Napoleon. It soon becomes clear that this is a graveyard for well-connected/influential people.

On a previous walking post, I mentioned the count, who was remembered on a bench by the riverside path.

More aristocracy, this time, German. 

Lots of members of the Tollemache family here, including many who served their country and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice (see the third picture of the war memorial).

Hard to read the name, but I do remember this was for a colonel of the Oxon Regiment (Ox & Bucks?)

Clearly many Canadians visit. There were signs pointing towards this grave. I was surprised by the date. I would have assumed he was around in the early 19th century.

The food in the cafe looked tempting, but it was a little early for lunch, so we made our way back to the Schloß. Bar the stop to walk around the graveyard, we strode home at a goodly pace. Round trip of c 8km/5 miles.