Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition

Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:


Q1. Richmond Park


Q2. Bertrand Russell


The initial clues seem to place us in Richmond Park, In Surrey. There appear to be around thirty Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the greater London area but the one which is the closest fit with the two thousand and ninety acre (or eight hundred and forty five hectare) descriptions, is Richmond Park. Some sources claim that the area of the park is around eight hundred and fifty six hectares or two thousand, one hundred and fifteen acres (methinks someone may possibly have used the dimensions of the Bois de Boulogne for this clue ;-)   ).

The author Charles Dickens rented a cottage on the Petersham road, for around four months c 1839 (which was quite expensive for back then, at £100 for the term) and used to hang out in the Star and Garter hotel. The deeds for the hotel were given to queen Mary, who presented it to the Red Cross c 1916, that they should convert it into a 'permanent haven' for disabled ex servicemen. A character called Tracey Tupman, in Dicken's work, 'The Pickwick Papers', retired to Richmond.

Ham House lies a mile or so to the west of Richmond park and this appears to have been built c 1610 for Sir Thomas Vavasour. It was subsequently given to his friend William Murray, by Charles I (c 1626) and the olfactororially challenged diarist, who scribed the lines 

"After dinner I walked to Ham to see the House and Garden of the Duke of Lauderdale, which is indeed inferior to few of the best Villas in Italy itself; the House furnished like a great Prince's; the Parterres, Flower Gardens, Orangeries, Groves, Avenues, Courts, Statues, Perspectives, Fountains, Aviaries and all this at the banks of the Sweetest River in the World, must needs be surprising" 

is most likely John Evelyn (born c 1620). 

Around seven miles south east of Ham House, very close to Railway Cuttings in East Cheam, lies the site of 'Nonsuch Palace', which was a very elegant house built by 'Enry the Eighth' c 1538. Seems to have been demolished c 1682.

There are a couple of lodges in Richmond park which have been home to several prime ministers, these are Pembroke Lodge, which was home to Lord John Russell (born c 1792)  and grandfather of the philosopher Bertrand Russell, who spent some of his childhood there, and White Lodge, which was home to the prime ministers Robert Walpole, John Stuart (third earl of bute) and Henry Addington (born 1757). White lodge seems to  currently be home to the  Royal Ballet Lower School, which fits with the 'keeps you on your toes' clue. Some sources I checked, claim that King Edward the eighth was born in White Lodge.

N.B. The Eastender has moved to moderated comments due to the number of people who normally write letters in green ink posting on his page. Rest assured though, if you have a non abusive comment relating to solving the puzzle and possible solutions, he will publish it.