KENSINGTON GARDENS.—“Bewick” writes, 1705: “Whatever is deficient in the
house is made up in the gardens. There is a noble collection of foreign
plants—every inch is well improved—the whole, with the house, not being
above 26 acres. Her Majesty (Queen Ann) has been pleased to add near 30
acres more toward the north. Upon this spot nearly 100 men work daily.”
In George Second’s reign Queen Caroline threw a string of ponds in Hyde
Park into one, so as to form what is called the Serpentine River.
Her Majesty also added 300 acres from Hyde Park.
At this time the gardens were only opened on Saturday, whilst His Majesty
and Court went to Richmond, and company appeared only in full dress on
this day.
Hyde Park was originally Hyde Farm, and belonged to the Monastery of
Westminster. At the Reformation it became vested in the Crown.
During the Commonwealth the Park was sold in 3 lots. 112 acres on
Bayswater side were bought by Richard Wilcox for £4,141, and John Tracey
bought 177 acres on the Kensington side for £3,906 7s. 6d.
Anthony Deane, of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, bought Tyburn Meadow, a
banqueting house at Park Corner, Bayard’s watering, a fortification, a
barn and stable, and land down to Park Corner, for £9,020 8s. 2d.
The fortification was opposite St. George’s Hospital, and another was in
Mount Street, Park Lane.
These fortifications were hurriedly put up by the inhabitants to prevent
the royalist army reaching London.
Hudibras writes:
“Marched rank and file, with drum and ensign.
T’entrench the city for defence in;
Raised rampiers with their own soft hands,
To put the enemy to stands.
“From ladies down to oyster wenches
Laboured like pioneers in trenches,
Fal’n to their pick axes and tools,
And helped the men to dig like moles.”