Local Political Powerbase: The Haringtons of Kew, Richmond and Twickenham
On two recent trips to European countries I have seen historical art works with a connection to an important family who were based in the early 17th century in Richmond, Twickenham and Kew. I thought it would be interesting to bring them together and tell the story of the Harington family in this area.
In St Vitus Cathedral in Prague is a large carving by Kašpar Bechteler showing a momentous historical event, when King Frederick of Bohemia fled the city following his defeat at the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620. This battle, and the subsequent deposition of the King, were major events in European History. They signified the start of the 30 Years’ War, one of the bloodiest European wars.
While King James I of England (VI of Scotland) largely stayed out of the conflict, Frederick’s wife, Elizabeth was the daughter of King James and was bought up in Kew by Baron John Harington of Exton and his wife, Anne.
The story starts with Lucy Russell (née Harington) who had married the Earl of Bedford (Lawson 2007). They were out of favour with Elizabeth I, as the Earl joined the Earl of Essex’s plot. When the Queen died Lucy, and her mother, went up to Scotland to meet and befriend the new Queen, Anne of Denmark. They did this so successfully that when, sometime later, the official delegation of women were sent to escort the Queen to London they found that Lucy had become the inseparable companion to the Queen.
The family benefited greatly from this friendship. Lucy became Lady of the Bedchamber, a position of immense power and influence. She purchased Twickenham Park (in what is now St Margarets) and used it as a place to entertain poets and other artists and indulge her passion for gardening (George 2025).
Her father was elevated to the nobility as Baron Harington of Exton. He was made guardian to Princess Elizabeth, and raised her in a house in Kew. This house is thought to have been Kew Farm, which was close to the current Kew Palace (Cloake 1995). The proximity to Twickenham meant that Lucy and Elizabeth became friends, and Lucy was one of Elizabeth’s staunchest advocates and allies in future troubles. However, the expense of looking after the Princess was financially crippling and the Harington estate in Exton had to be sold to pay their debts!
The third member of the Harington family that benefited from royal connections was John, Lucy’s brother. He became the closest companion of Henry, Prince of Wales, who had been given Richmond Palace as his residence. Henry was a charismatic and cultured prince, who was building a great garden in the Palace at the time of his early death in 1612 of typhoid (Strong 1986).
In 1613 Princess Elizabeth married Frederick V, Elector of the Palatinate. This was a politically important marriage, as Frederick was a key protestant leader in Europe. Lord Harington escorted the married couple to Heidelberg after their wedding, and the second related painting was in Haarlem in the Frans Hals Museum, painted by Hendrik Vroom, showing the arrival of Frederick and Elizabeth in Flushing in early 1613.
Unfortunately Lord Harington died in Worms on the return journey. His son (John) briefly succeeded to the title, dying in Kew in 1614.
The Elector and Electress built a large renaissance garden (the Hortus Palatinus) in Heidelberg (employing Salomon de Caus who had worked both on Richmond and Queen Anne’s gardens at Greenwich and Somerset House) (George 2025).
Unfortunately Frederick was persuaded to claim the crown of Bohemia in 1619. He was rapidly deposed following the Battle of the White Mountain, and also lost the Palatinate. This kicked off the last major religious war in Europe, it is estimated that 4.5 to 8 million people died of war, famine or disease during the 30 Years’ War (out of a population of around 18 million). In the German areas the population declined by around 40%. The war ended with the treaty of Westphalia, which helped define the modern concept of a nation state, and also set the map of Europe that survived until Napoleon’s time.
The loss of their kingdom meant that Frederick and Elizabeth lived in exile in The Hague. Lucy was a puritan, and strongly advocated that the King should actively support his daughter and son-in-law against their Catholic enemies.
Elizabeth was destined to play one further role in British history. When a suitable (protestant) successor for Queen Anne was sought, it was her grandson who became King George I in 1714.
The Harington family network, with nodes of royal friendship and influence in Kew, Richmond and Twickenham show how in the early 17th century one family could develop a powerbase that propelled them to the very top of society. This did not last, Lucy died with no surviving children. However, Lucy left a legacy through her patronage of writers such as John Donne and Ben Jonson. Her father, together with the Earl of Kent, founded Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge using money bequeathed by Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. Given the importance to the Haringtons of their royal connections, it is perhaps ironic that Oliver Cromwell was studying at the College around this time! The legacy of the family was also practical, another John Harington (a cousin of Lucy) installed the first flush toilet in Richmond Palace for his godmother, Queen Elizabeth!
References:
Cloake, J. (1995). Palaces and Parks of Richmond and Kew. Volume I: The Palaces of Shene and Richmond. Cheltenham, Phillimore & Co Ltd.
George, A. J. T. (2025). The Gardens and People of Twickenham Park. Bristol, Redcliffe Press.
Lawson, L. (2007). Out of the shadows: The life of Lucy, Countess of Bedford. London, Hambledon Continuum.
Strong, R. (1986). Henry Prince of Wales and England's lost renaissance. London, Thames and Hudson.
This is a pre-publication version of a short article published in the Richmond Local History Magazine (2026) 1: 21-23. This is the version before final editing.
© 2026 Andrew JT George / Richmond Local History Society. All rights reserved.
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