Aske HallEasby AbbeyHazel Smith GalleryKiplin HallMoulton HallMuseum of RichmondQueen Charlotte's CottageRichmond CastleSwaledale MuseumThe Green Howards MuseumThe Richmondshire Museum
Queen Charlotte's cottage is an early example of a cottage orne, a rustic cottage built as a country retreat, but not as a residence.
The cottage was used by the royal family in the late 18th century for resting and taking tea during walks in the gardens.
Its main attractions were its rural setting and the large paddock which was situated to the rear of the cottage.
Many exotic animals were kept in the paddock here.
Queen Caroline had kept tigers at Richmond, but George III and Queen Charlotte contented themselves with more docile pets, including oriental cattle and colourful Tartarian pheasants, which are still to be seen in this quiet area of the gardens.
From the early 1790s, kangaroos (the first to arrive in England) were kept and successfully bred in the Queen's Cottage paddock. By the early 19th century there were 18 kangaroos.
This made the cottage a popular destination for many royal walks until 1806 when Mr Aiton, the gardener, was instructed to turn the kangaroo paddock into a flower garden.
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Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Queen Charlotte's Cottage before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
Please also note that the position on Google maps for Queen Charlotte's Cottage is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Queen Charlotte's Cottage to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.
