Belhus, Aveley / Magnificent Thorndon / Hylands, Widford
Magnificent Thorndon
The engraving shows the James Paine mansion of 1764 - 70. The map shows the park as it was in
1772 - 4 not long after landscaping by Capability Brown. The original 300 acre park of 1414 is
now (partly) Thorndon Park South, the old hall being demolished when the new was built. 1734 -
1742 Thorndon was famed for the cultivation in huge hot-houses of exotic fruits, such as Pineapple,
Banana, Guava and Papaya under the guidance of the 8th Lord Petre.
By 1805 the park had incorporated Childerditch Common, now Thorndon Park North. Sadly most
of its 2,000 oak pollards were destroyed. Thorndon at this time was said to cover 1,077 acres,
farming mainly deer and sheep. (Engraving c. 1831, map 1777).
THORNDON NEAR BRENTWOOD c.1777
22 Essex Parks: Section 1 - Parks in Essex