In the opening talk of the 15th Chiswick Book Festival, at Chiswick House, acclaimed garden writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh will talk about his new book Chatsworth: Its Gardens and the People who Made Them. The event will be chaired by Rosie Fyles, Head of Gardens at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, the sister estate to Chatsworth. Both these celebrated gardens were owned by the 6th Duke of Devonshire who persuaded Joseph Paxton to leave Chiswick – where he was trained – to create the magnificent gardens at Chatsworth.
BOOK TICKETS HERE
The talk will cover important moments in the history of these celebrated Gardens, especially during the time of the 6th Duke of Devonshire who owned both Chatsworth and Chiswick House. They will also discuss the two iconic gardens in the present day.
“Chiswick and Chatsworth’s garden histories are very much entwined. I am looking forward to talking to Alan about his new book, his insights into Chatsworth’s gardens and asking him about his rich and varied career,” said Rosie Fyles, Head of Gardens at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust.
“The combination of Alan’s passionate knowledge of the Chatsworth Estate, and his long-established relationship with the Cavendish family, together with Rosie’s hands- on knowledge and experience of Chiswick Gardens is sure to make for a lively conversation,” added Xanthe Arvanitakis, Director of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust.
The talk will be held in the Garden Pavilion at Chiswick House & Gardens at 7pm on the evening of Thursday 7 September 2023, followed by a book signing. Doors will open, with books and drinks on sale, at 6pm. Tickets – price £15 – will go on sale in July and Members of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust will get a week’s priority booking. Find out how to become a Chiswick House & Gardens Trust Member.
“This will be the 15th Chiswick Book Festival and we couldn’t have a better combination of speakers and subjects for our Chiswick House & Gardens evening, which is always eagerly anticipated by book lovers in West London,” said Torin Douglas, Director of Chiswick Book Festival.
The Chiswick Book Festival brings together top authors and their readers in aid of charities. It will open on Wednesday 6 September with the very popular Local Authors Party at the George IV pub, followed by the Chiswick House evening on Thursday 7 September and a wide range of speakers at other venues. Tickets will go on sale in July on this website.
The Festival is a non-profit-making community event and all profits will be donated to four charities: St Michael & All Angels Church, which runs and hosts the festival, and three reading charities: Read for Good, Koestler Arts and Read Easy Ealing.