Hyde Park from Domesday-book to Date

by John Ashton

From this time there has been no great military display in Hyde Park: it is unsuitable for it, and the grass is quite enough spoilt by the mobs of fanatic, idle, mischievous, or seditious persons who there assemble at oft-recurring intervals, and destroy the peace and comfort of those, who are the vast majority, who wish to enjoy the verdant pleasures of the Park. Besides, railways have multiplied, and the facilities of holding real reviews and military manœuvres in places where there is far more room, have so increased, that it is probable that we have seen the last great military gathering in the Park. The Foot Guards still assemble here occasionally for exercise, and in the autumn it is a favourite spot for the annual inspection of Volunteer regiments, but then these are inspected singly, and without fuss.

It now becomes my very disagreeable task to chronicle the scenes of disorder which have taken place in the Park, and which, owing to the growth of democratic feeling, have only occurred this century, our ancestors being wisely content to use the Park as a place of sensible recreation, or at the very worst, as one for settling private differences quietly, and without observation. The change begun in 1821 at the removal of the corpse of Queen Caroline, wife of George IV., but this was unpremeditated, and need not have occurred. This took place on August 14.

It is not my place to comment on the marital relations of the King and Queen, or of the behaviour of the latter, who stood her trial and was acquitted of the charges brought against her. Suffice it to say that the popular voice was in her favour, and, on the occasion of the removal of her body to Brunswick (her final resting-place), the natural and most direct route lay through the City. Those in authority knew what an ovation the corpse would receive if it went that way, and sought to take a different route. From Brandenburgh House, where the Queen died, through Hammersmith, to turn round by Kensington Gravel Pits, near the church, into the Uxbridge Road, to Bayswater: thence to Tyburn turnpike, down the Edgware Road, along the New Road to Islington, down the City Road, Old Street, Mile End, to Romford, etc.

But this the mob would not allow: the corpse should go through the City, and The Morning Chronicle of Aug. 15 gives the following account of how the procession fared.

“It was at eight o’clock in the morning, when the procession reached Kensington Church, that public opinion made its first indication; the whole procession was suspended. The multitude, proceeding from the eastward, here assumed a determined attitude. The first object was the seizure of an ammunition-waggon, with an escort of the Foot Guards. The soldiers endeavoured to maintain their charge, but the pressure of the crowd rendered their efforts impotent; the ammunition-waggon was turned into an engine of defensive war. The people were determined not to let the Royal remains be smuggled through a bye-lane. Waggons, carts, hackney-coaches, with the lynchpins taken out, were, almost by a talismanic agency, converted into a barrier of obstruction, calculated to prevent the progress to the New Road. After two hours delay, an express having been, it was understood, sent to the Earl of Liverpool, a detachment of the Life Guards, with Sir Robert Baker at their head, at full gallop, with sabres drawn, reached the High Street, Kensington, at twenty-two minutes past 10. He, with the military officers, reconnoitred the position taken by the people, and they at once perceived that the passage by Kensington Gravel-pits was impossible. When it was announced that the Royal cortège was to proceed along the Hyde Park Road, the interest of the public feeling was then strenuously directed to prevent its being directed into Hyde Park. The cry was for ‘The City, the City, the City,’ etc. At the request of Mr. Hume, the ammunition-waggon, which was the first seizure, was released by the people.

“The Park now presented the spectacle of an immense multitude. As far as the eye could reach, the space was covered with umbrellas. Some of the Life Guards rode to and fro, which seemed to excite much displeasure among the crowd, which was testified by hissings and hootings. When the head of the procession reached Cumberland Gate, about half-past 12, a stoppage took place; the people crowded and wedged together at the end of Oxford Street and the gates were not very willing nor very able to make way. We saw an officer ride down Park Lane, for the purpose, as it appeared, of bringing up another body of soldiers. A troop of Horse Guards then appeared, and galloped at full speed towards the gate.

“As the Horse Guards advanced towards Cumberland Gate the people crowded forward, and manifested an intention of preventing the hearse from passing through. The Guards, who were not only hissed, but pelted with mud and stones, attempted to proceed, but the crowd rushed forward and closed one side of the gate. The soldiers then charged upon the people, and the gate was forced open, but was again closed for a few moments. The soldiers having at length got through, were again pelted with mud and stones. Some persons attempted to block up the entrance to the Edgware Road, and posts, stones, etc., were torn up for that purpose. The Guards now charged a second time, and many severe wounds were inflicted. The Riot Act having (as we understand) been read by Sir R. Baker, the Horse Guards fired upon the people, and did serious injury. One of the sufferers is a man named Honey, a cabinet-maker, Compton St., Soho; he lies at the General Wetherell, Oxford Street, and has just been recognized by his brother. Another lies dead at Mr. Lightfoot’s, surgeon, Oxford Street. An unfortunate man who had been carried to the hospital, shortly afterwards died of his wounds. The firing, single shots, lasted four or five minutes, during which period it is impossible to describe the distress and confusion which prevailed; men and women were seen running in all directions, endeavouring to avoid the attacks of the soldiers, who brandished their swords, and pushed forward with the most determined boldness and intrepidity.

“We must here observe, that the Oxford Blues took no part whatever in this attack upon the people—their conduct throughout was highly praiseworthy. The obstructions to the entrance of the Edgware Road having been at length removed, the procession moved forward, but not quietly. The people continued throwing mud, and calling out ‘Piccadilly Butchers,’ and ‘The Blues for ever.’ ”

The people had their way. When the procession came to Tottenham Court Road, it was found that the New Road, Hampstead Road, and all the streets near, were so barricaded, that it was utterly impossible to proceed. It, therefore, turned down Tottenham Court Road, Bloomsbury High Street, High Holborn, Drury Lane, to the Strand. The Lord Mayor and one of the Sheriffs met it at the foot of Ludgate Hill, and accompanied it to the City boundary, in Aldgate. After turning down Tottenham Court Road, and it was certain that the popular will would be carried out, all went with the utmost decorum, and the passage of the body through the City was quiet and reverential.