Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere is a country house on Shrubs Hill in Windsor Great Park, very near Sunningdale, Berkshire, but actually over the border in the borough of Runnymede in Surrey. It is a former royal residence - from 1750 to 1976 - and is most famous for being the home of King Edward VIII. The property remains in the ownership of the Crown, and is currently occupied by a private tenant. Image File history File links Fort_Belvedere. ... Image File history File links Fort_Belvedere. ... For the Blur single, see Country House (song). ... The Long Walk to Windsor Castle Windsor Great Park is a large Crown Estate of 19 km2 south of the town of Windsor to the west of London in the United Kingdom. ... This page is about the town. ... Berkshire (IPA: or  ; sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a county in England and forms part of the South East England region. ... A borough is an administrative division used in the Canadian province of Quebec, in some states of the United States, and formerly in New Zealand. ... Runnymede is a local government district with borough status in the English county of Surrey. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor), later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of...

Early History

Fort Belvedere was built 1750-1755, for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, one of George III’s brothers, famous for his role in the Battle of Culloden. It was, at first, merely a folly (a building constructed for aesthetic rather than purely practical purposes). It was used as a summer-house, and seven counties could be seen, as now, from the top of the flagstaff tower. The triangular turreted structure was set amidst a dense plantation of trees and overlooked Virginia Water, a man-made body of water constructed by Thomas and Paul Sandby at the behest of the Duke. Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... 1755 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (April 15, 1721–October 31, 1765), a younger son of King George II of Great Britain and Queen Caroline, was a noted military leader. ... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... Combatants Royal Army Jacobite Forces Commanders William Augustus Bonnie Prince Charlie Strength ca. ... Broadway Tower, England The folly at Wimpole Hall, England High Service Water Tower (1895), Lawrence, Massachusetts. ... Virginia Water is a village in Surrey in the United Kingdom. ... Thomas Sandby (1721 – 25 June 1798) was an English map-maker who later became an architect and teacher. ... Paul Sandby (1725 – 9 November 1809) was an English map-maker turned landscape painter in water-colours, who, along with his older brother Thomas, became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768. ...

Sir James Wyattville, who was responsible for the rebuilding of Windsor Castle under George IV, enlarged the house in 1828, for use as a hunting lodge. Additions included an octagon room in the North-East side, in which the King regularly had dinner. Windsor Castle: The Round Tower or keep dominating the castle, as seen from the River Thames. ... George IV (George Augustus Frederick) (12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 29 January 1820 until his death. ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The new work included the extension of the military appearance of the house, though it never had any military significance. A set of 31 guns, cast 1729-1749 by the first master founder at the Royal Foundry, later the Woolwich Arsenal, were used to fire salutes until 1907, often for Queen Victoria who was a frequent visitor. The Bombardier entrusted with the care of the guns lived in Bombardier’s Cottage, connected to the main house by an archway. Events July 30 - Baltimore, Maryland is founded. ... Events While in debtors prison, John Cleland writes Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure). ... The Woolwich Arsenal was an armaments manufacturing facility on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from January 1, 1877, until her death in 1901. ...

Later the property was used by a variety of royals, or their servants. In 1911, the old building was converted into a residence, and was used by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. The fort has 7 bedrooms. Dated October 30th, 1869, by Notman His Royal Highness The Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert) (1 May 1850 - 16 January 1942) was a member of the British Royal Family, a son of Queen Victoria. ...

The ruins in the grounds can be seen from the shore of Virginia Water and are part of an ancient temple brought from Leptis Magna near Tripoli. Virginia Water is a village in Surrey in the United Kingdom. ... Arch of Septimius Severus Market place Leptis Magna (or Lepcis Magna as it is sometimes spelled), also called Neapolis, was a prominent city of the Roman Empire. ... Tripoli Tripoli (population 1. ...

King Edward VIII

In 1929, the building became vacant, and was gifted to Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales by his father, King George V. This became the Prince's chief residence, and was used extensively by the Prince for entertaining and as a country retreat. When he became King in 1936, Edward continued to use the Fort, even although he now had a much wider choice of residences to live in. Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Windsor), later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor (formerly known as the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha). ...

The Fort became the setting of the Abdication crisis during 1936, when Edward was forced to abdicate the throne following the British and Dominion government's opposition to his marriage to Wallis Simpson. Edward held his final meetings with British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and signed the Instrument of Abdication, witnessed by his brothers, at the Fort. The Instrument of Abdication signed by Edward VIII Like King Henry VIII of England, whose wish to marry Anne Boleyn in the 1530s shook his kingdom, King Edward VIII created a crisis for the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth in the 1930s when he wished to marry Wallis Simpson. ... The Duke and Duchess of Windsor on their wedding day. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the head of government and so exercises many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC (3 August 1867–14 December 1947) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on three separate occasions. ...

The Duke of Windsor was resident 1930-36. During his tenure extensive remodelling to the interior was carried out.

Later residents

During World War II, the Fort was used by the Office of the Commissioners of Crown Lands, having been evacuated from their central London offices. After the War the house remained empty. The Hon. Gerald Lascelles, younger son of Mary, the Princess Royal (daughter of King George V) was the tenant 1956-1975, on a 99 year lease, and restored the gardens (adding a swimming pool, and tennis court). In 1976 the Amir of Dubai moved in. More recently the house has been home to Galen Weston, the Canadian owner of Fortnum and Mason PLC (and whose wife Hilary was Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario 1996-2001). The Crown Estate Commissioners remain the owners of the freehold, as the property is still part of the Great Park. Combatants Allies: Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France/Free France, United States, Canada, China, India, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Burma, Slovakia Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8... For other uses, see London (disambiguation). ... The Honourable Gerald Lascelles (21 August 1924 – 27 February 1998) was the youngest son of Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood and Princess Mary, Princess Royal. ... HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary (25 April 1897 - 28 March 1965) was a member of the British Royal Family. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Flag Coordinates , Government Emirate Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Geographical characteristics Area     City 4,114 km² Population     City (2004) 1,070,779     Density   293. ... Willard Gordon Galen Weston, OC, OOnt, (born October 29, 1940) is a Canadian businessman and descendant of George Weston of the George Weston Bakeries Limited. ... Fortnum & Mason is an upmarket grocery store founded in London in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. ... A Lieutenant Governor or Lieutenant-Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English Flower White trillium Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 106 24 Area Total  - Land  - Water    (% of total)  Ranked 4th 1... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio associated with the monarchy. ...

Royal Palaces and residencies in the United Kingdom
Occupied: Bagshot Park | Balmoral Castle | Buckingham Palace | Clarence House | Gatcombe Park | Highgrove | Hillsborough Castle | Holyrood Palace | St. James's Palace | Kensington Palace | Sandringham House | Thatched House Lodge | Windsor Castle
Historical: Palace of Beaulieu | Beaumont Palace | Bridewell Palace | Brantridge Park | Cadzow Castle | Cumberland Lodge | Dunfermline Palace | Eltham Palace | Falkland Palace | Fort Belvedere | Hampton Court Palace | Kew Palace | Linlithgow Palace | Marlborough House | Castle of Mey | Nonsuch Palace | Osborne House | Palace of Placentia | Queen's House | Richmond Palace | Royal Pavilion | Savoy Palace | Tower of London | Palace of Westminster | Palace of Whitehall