College 



n07 



PREFACE 



In spite of the abundance of books on London, not 

 one exists which tells the story of the Parks and 

 Gardens as a whole. Some of the Royal Parks have 

 been dealt with, and most of the Municipal Parks, but 

 in separate works. When Squares are touched on, in 

 guide-books, or in volumes to themselves, the Gardens 

 are for the most part left alone, and gossip of the 

 inhabitants forms the centre of the narrative. This is 

 the case also with public buildings and private houses 

 which have gardens attached to them. To give a 

 sketch of the history of the more important Parks and 

 Gardens, and to point out any features of horticultural 

 interest, is the object of the following pages. London 

 is such a wide word, and means such a different area 

 at various periods, that it has been necessary to make 

 some hard and fast rule to define the scope of this 

 work. I have, therefore, decided to keep strictly to 

 the limits of the County of London within the official 

 boundaries of the London County Council at the present 

 time. 



I would express my thanks to the authorities of the 





