Ricky Pound

A man and his Neo-Palladian villa are seldom parted!

My time schedule for today’s tour of Chiswick House and Garden. It’s tight but let’s see how it goes!

I’m looking forward today to guiding the Dilettanti group around Chiswick House and Gardens. And in celebration, I have brought back out the English Heritage Chiswick House tie! I haven’t worn this in quite some time! Is it Neo-Palladianism gone mad? :-)

We have limited availability for our joint event day on Tuesday 7th April 2026 with English Heritage.

To avoid disappointment, please click on the link below for further information and on how to book your ticket. We look forward to seeing you there!

www.ticketsource.co.uk/popesgrotto/...

Good run today- 14 Km (8.7 miles) around Richmond taking in Whitton, Richmond Hill, Marble Hill Park and Twickenham. Weatherwise, a perfect day for a run.

Join me at Marble Hill House on Thursday 21st May at 6.30 pm where I will be talking about Henrietta Howard’s porcelain collection and that of her neighbours,

Places are limited so don’t delay, book today! 👍😀

www.ticketsource.co.uk/marble-hill-...

My nearly Spring new haircut.

www.ticketsource.co.uk/marble-hill-...

I really looking forward to this!

www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/sele...

Is it just me, or are there #Jacobites everywhere? :-)

Kangxi ginger jars, circa 1700. They were heavily potted and often were placed at the bottom of ships as ballast.

New book on Chinese antique snuff bottles. It was such a bargain!

‘Snuff Bottles from China- The Victoria and Albert Collection’

We are delighted to share the poster with you for Series 8 of our online talks!

Each talk is followed by our popular question & answer session. Combined ticket recommended with all donations split equally between the participating properties. Book here-

londonluminaries.com/spotlight-ta...

New on display-

A Measham Ware Teapot, also known as Barge Ware.

These teapots were popular among barge folk in the 1800s and often personalised with names and messages.

E SPOONER ISLEWORTH
1881

Are you a Friend of Marble Hill House? If so, come & hear my talk on the 21st of May on Henrietta Howard & the collecting of Chinese porcelain in the 18th century- form, function, display & ritual.
It’s in the Great Room, a fantastic place to have a talk!

www.ticketsource.co.uk/marble-hill-...

www.instagram.com/rickypound?i... please follow me on Instagram. Go on, you know you want to 😀

We are delighted to announce that tickets for the 2026 series of online talks are now available from the our website-

londonluminaries.com/upcoming-eve...

This year we are also joined by new partners The Museum of Richmond and Dr Johnson’s House.

Buy the combined ticket & save money!

This looks like a very interesting read. Daniel Defoe, you snake!

In order of preference list, for favourite Chinese agate snuff bottle (for example A, C, B or B, A, C etc).

Banded Chinese agate snuff bottle, Qing period, circa 1750-1890. 7.5cm.
And the last two are similar examples.

If I could make one suggestion for improvement at the Victoria and Albert Museum, it would be placing on the numbers on the display cubes more centrally for a greater aesthetic experience :-)
Ps they do an excellent job with the cubes at the Twickenham Museum.

A small Nephrite jade toggle in the form of a seated ram. Late Qing to early Republic c.1850-1912. 3.5cm in length.

Join us on Tuesday 7th April at 10am where we have organised a special Alexander Pope day of related events including visits to Pope’s grotto, St Mary’s Church & special guided tour of Marble Hill House and a viewing of the grotto.
Tickets are available here-
www.ticketsource.co.uk/popesgrotto?...

Did you know that in the 18th century ‘people of quality’ thought nothing of drinking their tea out of a cup or eating off a plate decorated with large creepy crawlies & other insects? Sometimes the insects would even be given shadows to make them more realistic! Newly on display

If you live locally, it will be a great evening out.

www.ticketsource.co.uk/marble-hill-...

Three Meissen cups and a Meissen tea bowl, all decorated with landscape and harbour scenes set within gilded cartouches and yellow grounds. The tea bowl has a puce harbour scene inside.
On the bases all have gilder’s numbers or letters, including two from the same service. Circa 1735-45.

Lovely to provide members of Age Uk Richmond upon Thames with
a talk on Alexander Pope, his villa, garden and grotto this afternoon. I calculate a good 60-70 in the audience. Wonderful!

We are delighted to announce that from April we will have online talks from the following properties-

Museum of Richmond
Pope’s Grotto
Fulham Palace
Dr Johnson’s House
Turner’s House
Marble Hill House
Ham House
William Morris Society

More info coming soon!

Looking forward to these!