Geograph - photograph every grid square

Syon was named after Mount Zion in the Holy Land. It was founded by King Henry V in 1415 and was one of the last great abbeys to be built. Syon was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539. Syon House was built between 1547 and 1552 in the Italian Renaissance style, over the foundations of the west end of the Abbey church, which had been the size of a cathedral. In the mid 18th century, the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland were determined to make their mark on Syon Park and they completely redesigned the estate. The Scottish architect, Robert Adam was instructed to remodel the interior of Syon House and the Northumbrian designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, to lay out the grounds in the fashionable style of the English Landscape Movement. Syon House and its 200 acre park is still the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have now lived here for over 400 years. Syon House is here seen behind one of the two gatehouses which lie in front of it, next to the ha ha.