When access to Bushy Park in Richmond was withdrawn for local residents in the eighteenth century, a local shoemaker, Timothy Bennet, campaigned successfully to get it re-instated. Bennet threatened to take the Park Ranger, George Montagu-Dunk, the 2nd Earl of Halifax, to court if access for residents was not restored. He argued that local people should be allowed to cross the park to visit Kingston Market and attend church. As a result of Bennet’s actions, the Earl of Halifax agreed to reinstate residents’ access to Bushy Park in 1752. From then on, no attempts were made to stop entry to the park.[1]
Yet, one contemporary source records that by 1752, Bushy Park had been closed to residents for many years. Why did Bennet, then aged 75, decide to take up this cause at that time?[2] Part of his campaign involved the widespread distribution of a leaflet containing his engraved image, which must have been costly to produce and circulate.[3] It is possible Bennet was co-opted as a figurehead. Alternatively, he may have been encouraged by an ongoing similar campaign concerning Richmond Park.
Access restrictions began to be introduced at Richmond Park in about 1735. By 1744, entrance was only permitted with a ticket. Princess Amelia, the second daughter of George II, further restricted access when she became Ranger in 1751 . During the traditional “Beating of the Parish Bounds” ceremony in May 1751, the party was not granted permission to enter the park, and access was only obtained “with difficulty”. The public responded by drawing up petitions and embarking on a newspaper campaign against her.[4]
It is possible Bennet’s campaign was an attempt to set a precedent for the re-opening of Richmond Park. Surprisingly, the Earl of Halifax quickly conceded and re-opened Bushy Park. It is possible he was sympathetic to the cause and believed that, in backing down, he would put pressure on Princess Amelia to do the same.[5] However, in the short-term, Bennet’s success did not impact Richmond Park.
Instead, the case of Richmond Park was directly taken on by John Lewis, a Richmond resident who owned a brewery near the Thames. In 1755 Lewis walked to Sheen Gate and waited until a carriage approached. The carriage driver produced a ticket and was admitted, and Lewis attempted to walk through the gate before it closed. The gatekeeper pushed Lewis to prevent him entering. On the basis that he was forcibly denied access, Lewis brought forward legal action.
When the case came to court in 1758 they found in Lewis’ favour. In May 1758 ladder stiles were fixed at Sheen Gate and Ham Gate so pedestrians could use the park unhindered; a pedestrian entrance to Richmond Park on Kingston Hill is still called Ladder Stile Gate.[6] Princess Amelia gave up the Rangership of Richmond Park soon after the case was lost.
Both Bennet and Lewis were regarded as popular heroes. At the entrance of the pathway in Bushy Park named Cobbler’s Walk, a memorial was erected in 1900. It bears the inscription: “In memory of Timothy Bennet shoemaker of Hampton Wick. By whose efforts the adjoining footpath was preserved for the use and enjoyment of the public”.[7] When Lewis fell into poverty, the Reverend Thomas Wakefield organised a small annuity for him funded by the people of Richmond. Lewis’ portrait can still be seen in the Reference Library of the London Borough of Richmond.[8] An engraving of his portrait was inscribed: “Be it remembered that by the Steady Perseverance of John Lewis Brewer of Richmond Surry, the Right of a Free Passage through Richmond Park was recovered and established by the Laws of this Country (notwithstanding very strongly opposed) after being upwards of twenty years withheld from the People.”[9]
By Maggie Coleman, a U3A Shared Learning Project researcher for the Citizens Project
[1] Kathy White & Peter Foster (1997) Bushy Park- Royals, Rangers and Rogues, Foundry Press (pages 55-56) and Sheaf, John & Howe, Ken (1995) Hampton and Teddington Past, Historical Publications (page 50)
[2] Peter Foster (1995), Timothy Bennet – Comments, sources and associated material, London Borough of Richmond Local Studies Department (Ref L920)
[3] White & Foster (1997) (pages 55-56)
[4] Foster (1995)
[5] Foster (1995)
[6] “Clergyman led breaching of Park Wall,” Richmond Herald 24 Sept 1954
[7] C. M. Anstead & G. D. Heath (1965) “Bushy Park- Victorian Playground of the People,” Borough of Twickenham Local History Society, Paper No 4 (page 3)
[8] Foster (1995) and Max Lankester (2008) Re-establishment of Pedestrian Access to Richmond Park, Friends of Richmond Park, both from London Borough of Richmond Local Studies Department (Ref L920)
[9] Foster (1995) and Lankester (2008)
Bibliography:
Anstead, C. M. & Heath G. D. (1965) ‘Bushy Park – Victorian Playground of the People,‘ Borough of Twickenham Local History Society, Paper number 4
Beresford Chancellor E. (1908) ‘Richmond Park and its Rangers,’ Richmond & Twickenham Times, 4 July 1908, page 11
Country Life (1980) ‘Battle at the Park Gates,’ 13 November 1980
Duncan, Andrew (1996) ‘Right Royal Battle in Richmond,’ The Wick, February 1996
Evening Standard (1904) ‘Romance of Richmond Park,’ 12 April 1904
Foster, Peter (1995) Timothy Bennet – Comments, sources and associated material, London Borough of Richmond Local Studies Department (Ref L920)
Gentleman’s Magazine (1756) ‘Obituary of Timothy Bennet,’ 7 June 1756
Lankester, Max (2008) Re-establishment of Pedestrian Access to Richmond Park, Friends of Richmond Park, from London Borough of Richmond Local Studies Department (Ref L920)
The London Argus (1904) ‘The Freeing of Richmond Park,’ Vol XV No 366, 9 April 1904
A Resident (1877) A History of Richmond New Park, W H & A Nutting London
Richmond Herald (1898) ‘John Lewis,’ 7 May 1898
Richmond Herald (1954) ‘Clergyman led breaching of Park Wall,’ 24 Sept 1954
Richmond & Twickenham Times (1984) ‘He fought Royalty for Richmond’s Freedom,’ 29 August 1984
Richmond & Twickenham Times (1984) ‘Intrigue was on the Royal Menu,’ 4 September 1984
Richmond & Twickenham Times (1996) ‘Remarkable Story of the 450 year old Park,’ 8 November 1996
Sheaf, John & Howe, Ken (1995), Hampton and Teddington Past, Historical Publications Ltd
Surrey Comet (1900) ‘The Timothy Bennett Memorial,’ 16 June 1900
Surrey Comet (1900) ‘The Unveiling Ceremony,’ 23 June 1900
Surrey Comet (1921) ‘Village Rights secured by Humble Shoemaker,’ 9 February 1921
Surrey Comet (1987) ‘A plaque to man who ‘won’ path,’ 21 August 1987
Surrey Comet (1990) ‘Village objects to being poor relation,; 2 March 1990
Thorpe, Deborah, ‘A Load of Old Cobblers!’ https://thescribeunbound.wordpress.com/?s=A+Load+of+Old+Cobblers (accessed 30 January 2018)
Tile Gazetteer- Richmond upon Thames website http://tilesoc.org.uk/tile-gazetteer/richmond-upon-thames.html (accessed 30 January 2018)
Twickenham Museum website, Residents lose access rights through Bushy Park, http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=148&cid=19&ctid=1 (accessed 30 January 2018)
White, Kathy & Foster, Peter (1997), Bushy Park – Royals, Rangers and Rogues, Foundry Press
Winks, W E, (1883) Lives of Illustrious Shoemakers, London (Extract ‘Timothy Bennet, the Hero of Hampton Wick’ held at the Local Studies Department of London Borough of Richmond (Ref L920)
