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.”
HORTON STREET CHAPEL,
Formerly a Congregational Chapel, now a Baptist, was erected principally by Mr. Forsyth, head gardener to George III.; Mr. Thomas Broadwood, of Pulteney Street, and Mr. Saunders, body coachman to George III., with whom he was a great favourite. The King was much accustomed to converse with the latter upon religious subjects. The first minister who officiated was the Rev. Mr. Hall, of Edinburgh. The first stated minister was Dr. Lake, who left to take a curacy in the Established Church. He was succeeded by Rev. John Clayton, who was afterwards minister of Poultry Chapel.