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| The Garden Museum, next door to Lambeth Palace |
I've been interested in lost gardens since learning about Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens which I researched for some writing, so the exhibition at The Garden Museum was a nice way to spend a morning.
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| Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens |
The exhibition room was small, but offered fascinating information with maps and pictures. The one I found most intriguing was the home of John Hunter in Earls Court. On his land he kept wild animals, including lions. It's hard to imagine now looking at Earls Court these days.
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| John Hunter's House at Earls Court |
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| Where Mr Hunter kept his lions! |
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Further view of John Hunter's House
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All these gardens have since been demolished and built over as London spread from the city to the outer reaches, or made way new buildings or for the new sewer (of it's day, not the Super Sewer!).
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| Former gardens around Euston station |
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| Cesar's Camp near Wimbledon Common |
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| Demolition of Northumberland House |
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| General view of exhibition |
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| Gardens at Whitechapel Hospital |
Some gardens do still exist, like Hyde Park and the enclosed ones for the 'posh' houses in some squares. The latter are for residents only and are locked to the public. In some small way London is reclaiming some land as plots are renovated and made into pocket parks. They exist often near churches, where graveyards once stood. Opposite St Paul's is one over the top of an undeground car park. There is another behind Tower Hill. These are for the public use and vary from pieces of land with a few trees and benches to eleborate ones with ponds and engraved paving stones depicting the Fire of London. If you are interested in pocket parks, have a look at this article which has a map with a walk you can follow. There are lovely photos to accompany the article.
As for the lost gardens, you can learn more about them at the exhibition. Recommended.
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| Bloomsbury |
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| Elizabeth Holland's celebrated brothel with moated garden, near the Globe Theatre, Bankside (1632) |
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| Battersea Pleasure Gardens |
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