Hyde Park, London

Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, England, and one of the Royal Parks of London. The park is divided in two by the Serpentine Lake. The park is contiguous with Kensington Gardens, which is widely assumed to be part of Hyde Park, but is technically separate. The boundary between the two is West Carriage Drive, which can be seen running north south on the map linked below. Hyde Park is 350 acres (1.4 km²) and Kensington Gardens is 275 acres (1.1 km²) giving an overall area of 625 acres (2.5 km²).

History and layout

The oldest part of Hyde Park once belonged to the manor of Ebury. This land had an area of one hide (anything between 60 and 120 acres, or 0.24 to 0.49 km²), which gave the park its name.

Related Topics:
Hide - Acre

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The land was acquired by Henry VIII in 1536 from the monks of Westminster Abbey. Much of the layout dates back to the work of architect Decimus Burton in the 1820s. Where Kensington Gardens is largely flat, Hyde Park has high and low features.

Related Topics:
Henry VIII - 1536 - Westminster Abbey - Architect - Decimus Burton - 1820s

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The park was the original site of the Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851. On July 20 1982 in Hyde Park and Regent's Park, London two bombs linked to the IRA caused the death of Seven horses and eight members of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Green Jackets. Additionally, it has been the venue for some famous rock concerts, including those featuring Jethro Tull (1968), The Rolling Stones (1969), Pink Floyd (1970), Roy Harper (1971), Queen (1976) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (2004). Furthermore, it was the location for Live 8. In addition, the photography for the Beatles album Beatles for Sale occurred at Hyde Park in autumn of 1964.

Related Topics:
The Crystal Palace - Joseph Paxton - Great Exhibition - 1851 - July 20 - 1982 - Regent's Park - London - IRA - Household Cavalry - Royal Green Jackets - Jethro Tull - The Rolling Stones - Pink Floyd - Roy Harper - Queen - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live 8 - Beatles - Beatles for Sale - Autumn

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Grand entrance

The Grand Entrance to the park was erected from the designs of Decimus Burton. It consists of a screen of handsome fluted Ionic columns, with three carriage entrance archways, two foot entrances, a lodge, &c. The extent of the whole frontage is about 107 feet. The central entrance has a bold projection: the entablature is supported by four columns; and the volutes of the capitals of the outside column on each side of the gateway are formed in an angular direction, so as to exhibit two complete faces to view. The two side gateways, in their elevations, present two insulated Ionic columns, flanked by antae. All these entrances are finished by a blocking, the sides of the central one being decorated with a beautiful frieze, representing a naval and military triumphal procession. This frieze was designed by Mr. Henning, junior, son of Mr. Henning, who was well known for his models of the Elgin marbles.

Related Topics:
Ionic column - Elgin marbles

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The gates were manufactured by Messrs. Bramah. They are of iron, bronzed, and fixed or hung to the piers by rings of gun-metal. The design consists of a beautiful arrangement of the Greek honeysuckle ornament; the parts being well defined, and the raffles of the leaves brought out in a most extraordinary manner.

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