Hyde Park

Hyde Park,—at the W. end of Piccadilly on the R. and of Oxford-st. on the L. it extends to Kensington-gardens.

Hyde-Park is at the western extremity of the metropolis, extending from Apsley House, Piccadilly, along the great western road to Kensington-gardens, and from the western end of Oxford-street, to which it extends northward, to the northern side of the same gardens. It is part of the antient manor of Hida, which belonged to the monastery of St. Peter, Westminster, till, in the reign of Henry VIII. it became the property of the crown. It was originally much larger than it is at present, having been reduced since the survey in 1652, when it contained 620 acres, by enclosing and taking part of it into Kensington-gardens, and by grants of land between Hyde-park Corner and Park-lane, for building on. According to a survey taken in 1790, its extent was 394 acres, 2 roods, and 38 poles.

The Serpentine river was formed by Queen Caroline, in 1730, by enlarging the bed of the stream which runs to the northwest of Bayswater, on the Uxbridge-road, passes through Kensington-gardens and the Park, and falls into the Thames, near Ranelagh.

New and beautiful lodges, at the northern, eastern and southern entrances to this park, have recently been erected from designs of Decimus Burton, Esq. At the latter, by Apsley House, at the western end of Piccadilly, is a very handsome screen of the Ionic order, and Park entrance, by the same architect. Between Kensington-gardens and the Park, a new and handsome bridge has been constructed over the Serpentine river, from designs of John Rennie, Esq. Well engraved views of these several structures, from correct drawings taken by J.H. Shepherd, Esq., are in the work called, "London in the Nineteenth Century."

Hyde Park, one of the "lungs of London" (as Lord Chatham first called the Park),¹ connecting the Green Park with Kensington Gardens, and thus carrying a continuous tract of open ground, or park, from the Horse Guards, at Whitehall, to the hamlet of Kensington. The area of Hyde Park is 386 acres; of Kensington Gardens 245.5, making together what is practically a single park of 631 acres. The whole park is intersected with well-kept foot paths, and the carriage drives are spacious and well attended. The park is accessible for private carriages, but hackney-coaches and cabs are excluded, except along the road between Victoria Gate, Bayswater, and Exhibition Road.

Adjoining to Knightsbridge were two ancient manors, called Neyte and Hyde, both belonging to the church of Westminster till the reign of Henry VIII., when they became the property of the Crown, having been given, together with the advowson of Chelsea, in exchange for the Priory of Hurley, in Berkshire. The site of the manor of Hyde constitutes, no doubt, Hyde Park, which adjoins to Knightsbridge on the north, lying between the two roads which lead to Hounslow and Uxbridge: it is most probable that it was inclosed by the Abbot and Convent of Westminster.—Lysons, vol. ii. p. 113.

It was fenced in with deer fences from a very early period; was first walled in with brick in the reign of Charles II.; and first enclosed with an open iron railing in the reign of George IV. The south side was disfigured with a riding house and an engine house belonging to the Chelsea Water-works as late as 1826. In 1550 the French ambassador hunted in Hyde Park with the King. In 1570 we read of complaints of the "inclosure of certain lands at Knightsbridge for preservation of the game."² In 1578 the Duke Casimir "killed a barren doe with his piece in Hyde Park, from amongst 300 other deer." The deer seems to have been strictly preserved in James I.'s reign.

October 30, 1619—Chamberlain to Carleton.—The deer-stealers were executed at Hyde Park Gate, and also a poor labourer, who was hired for 16d. to hold their dogs.—Cal. State Pap., 1619–1623, p. 88.

In Charles I.'s reign Hyde Park became celebrated for its foot and horse races round the Ring; in Cromwell's time for its musters and coach races; in Charles II.'s reign for its drives and promenades—a reputation which it still retains, showing in the London season, from April to July (between half-past 5 and half-past 6 p.m.), all the wealth and fashion and splendid equipages of the nobility of the country.

Alas! what is it to his scene, to know
How many coaches in Hyde Park did show
Last spring?—Ben Jonson, Prologue to The Staple of News.

Have they any places of meeting with their coaches, and taking the fresh open air, and then covert when they please as in our Hyde Park or so?—Ben Jonson, The World in the Moon, 1620.

Vincent. Shall we make a fling to London, and see how the spring appears there in the Spring Garden; and in Hyde Park, to see the races, horse and foot; to hear the jockies crack, and see the Adamites run naked before the ladies?—Richard Brome, A Jovial Crew, 4to, 1652.

Of all parts of England Hyde Park hath the name
For Coaches and Horses, and Persons of Fame.
Old Ballad in Roxburghe Collection, vol. ii. p. 379.

Scene—A Part of Hyde Park.
Lord Bonvill. When do they run?
Trier. They say presently.
Lord B. Will you venture anything, lady? [to Julietta.]
Trier. Perhaps she reserves herself for the horse-race.
Lord B. [to Trier]. You are for the foot-men.
Trier. I run with the Company.
[Enter Rider and Venture.]
Ventur. I'll go your half.
Rider. No, thank you. Jack; would I had ten pieces more on't!
LordB. Which side?
Rider. On the Irishman.
Lord B. Done: I'll maintain the English.—Shirley, Hyde Park, 4to, 1637.

April 11, 1653.—I went to take the aire in Hide Park, where every coach was made to pay a shilling, and horse 6d., by the sordid fellow who had purchased it of the State as they were cal'd.—Evelyn.

Monday May 1 was more observed by people going a-maying than for divers years past, and indeed much sin committed by wicked meetings with fidlers, drunkenness, ribaldry and the like. Great resort came to Hyde Park, many hundreds of rich coaches and gallants in attire, but most shameful powdered hair; men painted and spotted women, some men played with a silver ball, and some took other recreation. But his Highness the Lord Protector went not thither, nor any of the Lords of the Council.—Severall Proceedings, April 27 to May 4, 1654.

May 20, 1658.—I went to see a coach-race in Hide Park, and coUationed in Spring Garden.—Evelyn.

Hyde Park is full of widows and the Spring Garden of maids.—Letters of Sir Tobie Mathews, 1660, p. 195.

August 10, 1660.—With Mr. Moore and Creed to Hyde Park by coach, and saw a fine foot-race three times round the Park [Ring?] between an Irishman and Crow, that was once my Lord Claypoole's footman.—Pepys.

April 11, 1669.—Thence to the Park, my wife and I; and here Sir W. Coventry did first see me and my wife in a coach of our own; and so did also this night the Duke of York, who did eye my wife mightily.—Pepys.

April 25, 1669.—Abroad with my wife in the afternoon to the Park, where very much company, and the weather very pleasant I carried my wife to the Lodge, the first time this year, and there in our coach eat a cheesecake and drank a tankard of milk. I showed her also this day first the Prince of Tuscany, who was in the Park, and many very fine ladies.—Pepys.

Hyde Park every one knows is the promenade of London; nothing was so much in fashion, during the fine weather, as this promenade, which was the rendezvous of fashion and beauty. Every one, therefore, who had either sparkling eyes or a splendid equipage, constantly repaired thither, and the King [Charles II.] seemed pleased with the place.—De Grammont.

Young Bellair. Most people prefer High Park to this place [the Mall].
Harriet, It has the better reputation I confess, but I abominate the dull diversions there, the formal bows, the affected smiles, the silly by-words and amorous tweers in passing; here [in the Mall] one meets with a little conversation now and then.—Etherege, The Man of Mode, 4to, 1676.
Comely. Nay, 'tis no London female: she's a thing that never saw Cheesecake, Tart, or Syllabub at the Lodge in Hyde Park.—The English Monsieur by Hon. James Howard, 4to, 1674.

January 1682.—[The Morocco Ambassador] went often to Hide Park on horseback, where he and his retinue show'd their extraordinary activity in horsemanship, and flinging and catching their launces at full speede; they rid very short, and could stand upright at full speede, managing their spears with incredible agility.—Evelyn.

Lord Malapert. O law! what shou'd I do in the Country? there's no levees, no Mall, no plays, no Opera, no tea at Siam's, no Hyde Park.
Lady Malapert. There are a thousand innocent diversions more wholesome and diverting than always the dusty mill-horse driving in Hyde Park.
Lord Malapert. O law! don't prophane Hyde Park: is there anything so pleasant as to go there alone, and find fault with the company? Why there can't a horse or a livery 'scape a man, that has a mind to be witty; and then I sell bargains to the orange women.—Southerne, The Maid's Last Prayer, 4to, 1693.

Kynaston [the actor who played female parts] at that time was so beautiful a youth that the Ladies of Quality prided themselves in taking him with them in their coaches to Hyde Park, in his theatrical habit after the Play; which in those days they might have sufficient time to do, because Plays then were us'd to begin at four o'clock: the hour that People of the same rank are now going to dinner. Of this truth I had the curiosity to enquire, and had it confirmed from his own mouth in his advanced age.—Colley Cibber.

London, June 7, 1695.—Some days since several persons of quality having been affronted at the Ring in Hyde Park, by some of the persons that rode in Hackney-Coaches with Masks, and complaint thereof being made to the Lord Justices, an order is made that no Hackney-Coaches be permitted to go into the said Park, and that none presume to appear there in masks.—The Post Boy, June 8, 1695.

From Spring Garden we set our faces towards Hyde Park, where Horses have their diversions as well as men. ... Here people coach it to take the air, amidst a cloud of dust, able to choak a foot soldier, and hindered us from seeing those that come thither on purpose to show themselves. ... So says my Indian, what a bevy of gallant ladies are in yonder coaches; some are singing, others laughing, others tiding one another, and all of them toying and devouring cheesecakes, marchpane, and China oranges.—Tom Brown's Amusements for the Meridian of London, 8vo, 1700, p. 54.

Col. Standard. This very morning in Hyde Park, my brave regiment, a thousand men, that looked like lions, yesterday, were scattered and looked as poor and simple as the herd of deer that grazed beside them.—Farquhar, The Constant Couple, 1700, Act i Sc. I.

Millament. Mirabell don't let us be familiar or fond, nor kiss before folks, like my Lady Fadler and Sir Francis; nor go to Hyde Park together the first Sunday in a new chariot to provoke eyes and whispers; and then never be seen there together again.—Congreve, The Way of the World, 4to, 1700.

Memorable Circumstances,—Oliver Cromweirs coachmanship:—

His Highness, only accompanied with Secretary Thurloe, and some few of his gentlemen and servants, went to take the air in Hyde Park, where he caused some dishes of meat to be brought; where he made his dinner, and afterwards had a desire to drive the coach himself, having put only the Secretary into it, being those six horses which the Earl of Oldenburgh had presented unto his Highness, who drove pretty handsomely for some time; but at last provoking those horses too much with the whip, they grew unruly, and run so fast, that the postillion could not hold them in; whereby his Highness was flung out of the coach-box upon the pole, upon which he lay with his body, and afterwards fell upon the ground. His foot getting hold in the tackling, he was carried away a good while in that posture, during which a pistol went off in his pocket: but at last he got his foot clear, and so came to escape, the coach passing away without hurting him. He was presently brought home, and let blood; and after some rest taken, he is now pretty well again.—The Dutch Ambassadors to the States General, October 16, 1654 (Thurloe's State Papers, vol. ii. p. 652).

1656.—When we [George Fox and his companion] came near Hide Park, we saw a great concourse of people: and looking towards them, we espied the Protector coming in his coach. Whereupon I rode up to his coach-side: and some of his Life-Guard would have put me away; but he forbad them. So I rode down by his coach-side with him, declaring, what the Lord gave me to say unto him of his condition, and of the sufferings of friends in the nation; showing him "how contrary this persecution was to Christ and his apostles and to Christianity." When we were come to James Park gate I left him; and at parting he desired me to come to his house.—G. Fox's Journal, sub an., 1656, p. 223.

Duel near Price's Lodge (November 15, 1712) between the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun. The duke got out of his coach "on the road that goes to Kensington, over against Price's Lodge, and walked over the grass between the two ponds." They fought with swords, Colonel Hamilton acting as second to the duke, and General Macartney as second to Lord Mohun. Two men ineffectually ran with staves to separate them. Lord Mohun was killed upon the spot, falling into the ditch upon his back, and the Duke of Hamilton falling severely wounded near him, and leaning over him. The keeper of Price's Lodge, in the park, lifted the duke up. He walked about thirty yards, said "he could walk no further," and died immediately. Macartney escaped in disguise to the Continent, and was accused by Colonel Hamilton upon oath before the Privy Council with having stabbed the duke over his (the Colonel's) shoulder while he was in the act of raising him from the ground. A proclamation was issued, offering £500 reward for the apprehension of Macartney, to which was added £300 by the Duchess of Hamilton. The Scotch peers, addressing the Queen, prayed that she would use all her influence with her allies, in order that the murderer might be brought to justice; but General Macartney, having found favour at the Court of Hanover, was afterwards employed by George I. in bringing over the 6000 Dutch troops, at the breaking out of the Preston rebellion, soon after which he surrendered, and, taking his trial, was acquitted of the murder, and only found guilty of manslaughter. The ostensible cause of quarrel was the right of succession to the estate of Gerrard, Earl of Macclesfield, both having married nieces of the earl; but public politics had perhaps as much to do with it as the private lawsuit in which they were engaged. In November 1749 Horace Walpole was robbed by highwaymen in Hyde Park.³ Duel (November 16, 1763) between John Wilkes and Sainuel Martin, M.P., on account of a paragraph in The North Briton. They fought near the Ring, and Wilkes was wounded in the stomach.

The same year a duel was fought here between Lord Cornwallis and Mr. Rigby. Duel (November 17, 1779) between Charles James Fox and Mr. Adam, a nephew of "the Adelphi," in which Fox was wounded. Walpole says of it, "Of all duels on true or false record, this was the most perfect! So much temper, sense, propriety, easy good humour, and natural good nature, on a base of firmness and spirit, never were assembled."⁴ Duel between Fullerton and Lord Shelburne.

March 23, 1780.—This brought a letter of challenge from Lord Shelburne to meet him yesterday morning, at half-past five in Hyde Park with seconds. These were for my Lord, Lord Frederick Cavendish: for Fullerton, Lord Balcarras. ... Surgeons for each attended, Hunter and Adair; but on examining the wound, no danger was or is apprehended. ... Barré was in the Park at a distance from Lord S.; and so was Tom Jeans and others for Fullerton.—Mr. Harris (Hermes) to his son Lord Malmesbury.

Observe.—Statue of Achilles, "inscribed by the women of England to Arthur, Duke of Wellington, and his brave companions in arms," erected in Hyde Park, as the inscription sets forth, "on the 18th of June, 1822, by command of his Majesty George IV." The statue is by Sir R. Westmacott, R.A., and cast from cannon taken at the victories of Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, and Waterloo, the cost was defrayed by a subscription of £10,000, raised among ladies. The figure is copied from one of the famous antiques on the Monte Cavallo, at Rome; but the title of Achilles is a misnomer, and the shield on the left arm an addition inconsistent with the action and purpose of the figure. The Albert (or Prince Consort) Memorial, at the west end of the Park, by the Kensington Road, facing the Albert Hall. Immediately east of the Albert Memorial stood the Great Exhibition building of 1851, re-erected as the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. This vast iron and glass structure, the design of Sir Joseph Paxton, carried out by Messrs. Fox and Henderson, covered an area of nearly 19 acres, enclosed beneath its roof some tall elm trees, and was visited during the twenty-four weeks it was open by upwards of 6,000,000 persons. [See Albert Memorial; Ring; Rotten Row; Serpentine.] Observe, too, the very pretty flower-beds—an addition of recent years—which skirt Park Lane, Rotten Row, and the Bayswater Road.

A review of troops in Hyde Park is a sight worth seeing, but reviews of late years have been of rare occurrence. A large coloured engraving of the review on October 28, 1799, drawn and engraved by Charles Tomkins, supplies a curious picture of the houses in Park Lane and immediately without the Park in that year. Near the Serpentine and the gate into Kensington Gardens is the great government store of gunpowder. In this house alone upwards of 1,000,000 rounds of ball and blank ammunition are kept ready for immediate use. This spot is the usual meeting-place for the Four-in-Hand and Coaching Clubs. The bridge dividing Hyde Park from Kensington Gardens, by J. and G. Rennie, was erected in 1826.

The principal entrances to Hyde Park are by the triple gate at Hyde Park Corner; the Marble Arch, removed from Buckingham Palace in 1850–1851 to Cumberland Gate; Prince's Gate, near the Albert Memorial (notice the handsome iron gates purchased from the Great Exhibition of 1851), and the Victoria Gate at the north-western extremity of the Park. [See Hyde Park Corner; Cumberland Gate.]

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¹ It was a saying of Lord Chatham that the parks were the lungs of London.—Windham's Speeches, vol. iii., p. 146.
² Cal. State Papers, 1547–1580, p. 363.
³ Letters, vol. ii. p. 185.
⁴ Walpole, Letters, vol. vii. p. 290.