This 1948 pictorial map of London’s Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park depicts the rich tapestry of history within the confines of the Royal Parks.
Kensington Palace stands out as a prominent landmark, its west front gracing the bottom of the map. William III moved the court here from Whitehall in 1689, seeking relief from his asthma in the Kensington air. The palace remained a royal residence until the reign of George III. Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace in 1819, and Queen Mary was born there in 1867.
Bordering the south side of Kensington Gardens is Rotten Row, a track that once served as the route taken by Plantagenet Kings to their hunting forests. Today, Rotten Row is a popular horse-riding path.
Serpentine Lake, a long, winding body of water that snakes through the centre of the map, was formed in 1730 by enlarging the bed of the Westbourne River. The lake was named after its serpentine shape. Queen Caroline had the lake enlarged “by including various ponds.” The Serpentine has served as a popular boating venue since its creation.
Hyde Park itself has a long history. Henry VIII acquired the land in 1536, and it was used as a hunting ground by the monarchy until the reign of Charles I. The park was opened to the public in the 17th century, and has remained a popular spot for Londoners ever since.
The map also includes a number of interesting details and trivia.
- The boundary stones marking the graves of Phoebe Phelps and Walter Stephen Matthews are mentioned, referencing the characters from J. M. Barrie’s famous novel, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
- The tale of Queen Caroline and the cost of enclosing the three Royal Parks is recounted. Married to King George II in 1705, one of her most notable friendships was that with Robert Walpole - the king’s chief minister. Walpole, when asked the cost of enclosing all three Royal Parks, replied, “Madam, it would cost you three crowns - England, Scotland and Ireland.”
- The map notes that London’s milk supply was centred here during the General Strike of 1926.
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