From the station the Quadrant leads to the south west. Sheen Road, which soon comes in on the left (from Mortlake and Putney), contains several 18th century mansions. George Street leads straight on towards the centre of the town, but we follow Duke Street to the right to RICHMOND GREEN, which is bordered by some fine old houses. Turning to the left, we pass Old Palace Terrace, at the south corner of the Green, and other houses in the Queen Anne style. The Maids of Honor Row, farther on, was built for the ladies-in-waiting to Caroline of Anspach, wife of George II.; here also Sir Richard Burton (1821-90), the traveller, lived as a boy. Adjacent are the sole relics of Richmond Palace: the red-brick gateway with the battered arms of Henry VII., and a part of the adjoining Wardrobe Court. Within the gateway is a picturesque courtyard. Garrick House, in the west corner of the Green, occupies the site of the theatre of which Edmund Kean was lessee in 1831-33. From the opposite corner of the Green a street called Parkshot leads to the north east; at No. 8, now replaced by the offices of the Board of Guardians, George Eliot wrote 'Scenes of Clerical Life' and 'Adam Bede'(1855-59). From the end of Parkshota private road leads to the left into the Old Deer Park (no admission), now used by the Mid-Surrey Golf Club and the Richmond Cricket, Rugby Football, and Hockey Clubs. Kew Observatory, in the middle of the park, was erected by Sir William Chambers in 1768; it is now the central observatory for meteorology and for terrestrial magnetism and physics (admission on previous application to the superintendent).
Near the observatory once stood the important Carthusian priory of West Sheen, founded by Henry V. A short distance to the north east lay Richmond Lodge, the favourite abode of George II. and Queen Caroline, pulled down in 1772. Its grounds, now part of Kew Gardens, were the scene of the meeting between Jeanie Deans and Queen Caroline described in Scott's 'Heart of Midlothian.'
In Kew Foot Road, the continuation of Parkshot, the poet Thomson lived and died (1736-48); the site of his house, Rosedale Cottage, is now occupied by the Royal Hospital.
