Historic Book

Extract from “Views in Kensington Gardens” by John Sargeant

Published 1831

Pages 21-22

“The original gardens , during the time of King Wil
liam , were not of greater extent than twenty – six acres ;
yet this confined space appears to have been deemed
adequate to every purpose of recreation , and the dignity
of royalty . In a view of the gardens near London , in
December 1691 , communicated to the Society of
Antiquaries by the Rev. Dr. Hamilton , vice – president ,
from an original M.S. in his possession , they are
described as ” not great , nor abounding with fine plants .
The orange , lemon , myrtle , and what other trees they
had there in summer , were all removed to Mr. Loudon
and Mr. Wise’s greenhouse , at Brompton Park , a little
mile from them . But the walks and grass were laid
very fine , and they were digging up a flat of four or
five acres to enlarge their garden . “

On the accession of Anne , thirty acres were added ;
but they were laid out in the formal stile then pre
valent : and which the correct taste of Horace Walpole
thus judiciously censured : – ” The sheers were applied
to the lovely wildness of form with which nature has
distinguished each various species of tree or shrub .
The venerable oak , the romantic birch , the useful elm ,
the aspiring circuit of the lime , and the regular round
of the chesnut , were corrected by such fantastic ad
mirers of symmetry . The compass and the square
were of more use in plantations than the nurseryman .
The measured walk , the quincunx , and the etoile ,
imposed their unsatisfying sameness on every royal or
noble garden . Trees were headed and their sides
pared away . Seats of marble , arbours , and
summer houses terminated each walk ; and symmetry ,
even where the space was too large to permit its being
remarked at one view , was so essential…”

Page 24

“The gardens remained without addition or improve
ment until the time of Caroline , the consort of George
II . This illustrious lady , whose tastes and mind
appear to have been of very superior order , enlarged
them to their present dimensions , by adding a large
piece of ground from the adjoining park . The Ser
pentine was formed , by throwing a string of ponds in
Hyde Park into one : and the new grounds were laid
out in better taste , and on a larger scale , than we
have any instances before that period . From a
drawn survey in the British Museum , apparently
made with the greatest care , the total admeasurement
of the gardens , ( including the Palace , the pieces of
water , the Palace – green , and the Kitchen – gardens , ) is
two hundred and ninety – seven acres , two roods , thirty
eight poles , their figure approaching the quadrangular ,
and their circumference nearly three miles and a half.”

Page 28

“These grounds appear to have been a favourite
resort of the high – born and fair , as far back as the
reign of George II, though they were then only open
to the public on Saturdays , when the court was at
Richmond.”

Page 31-32

“On the north of the Palace stands the Green – house ,
erected by Queen Anne , and used by that sovereign
as a banquetting – room . The south – front is ornamented
with rusticated pillars , supporting a Doric pediment ;
each end terminating in a semi – circular recess : the
interior is appropriately and tastefully constructed .
The building some years since underwent a thorough
repair , and was afterwards appropriated to the recep
tion of His Majesty’s exotic plants .
The artificial mount , at the south – eastern extremity
of the gardens , was raised and planted by Queen
Caroline , and at the time , must ‘ have afforded a fine
view of the adjacent country ; but the prospect has
long since , however , been entirely intercepted by the
surrounding trees .
Palace Green , lying to the westward of the Palace ,
was the parade – ground for the soldiery , when the court

resided here . Here are two very remarkable buildings :
Henry VIII.’s conduit , erected by that monarch for the
use of the Princess ( afterwards queen Elizabeth , ) when
a child ; and the Water , or Bell Tower , built in the
time of Anne , for the purpose of supplying the Palace
with water . The first is a low building of great
strength , with four gable ends ; still in good preserva
tion : the other , in the broad stile of Sir John Vanbrugh ,
is a square tower , about thirty feet high , flanked on
either side , by a turret rising ten feet above the centre
building . Having been long since abandoned for the
purpose for which it was constructed , the interior has
become useless and neglected . A low circular building
( likewise built in the reign of Anne ) is now used as
an engine house for supplying the Palace with water .
There are several springs on the green , from which
the town is partially supplied ; and on the east
side a reservoir has been constructed for the recep
tion of the waste water .
The kitchen gardens and forcing grounds , extend
northward from the Palace towards the Gravel – pits ,
and contain about twenty acres.”