104 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



The present timber fence has stood for forty years, so 

 even from an economical point of view iron, which re- 

 quires painting, could not be recommended. It is to be 

 hoped the old traditional style of fence of. this delight- 

 ful Park may be continued. 



To the north of Regent's Park, and only divided 

 from it by a road, lies Primrose Hill. This curious 

 conical hill, 216 feet high, so well known as an open 

 space enjoyed by the public, formerly belonged to 

 Eton College, but became Crown property about the 

 middle of last century, and is now under the Office of 

 Works, who keep it in order, and have done all the 

 planting which has of late years improved this other- 

 wise bare eminence. Some of the guide-books to London 

 refer to the lines of Mother Shipton's prophecy that 

 Primrose Hill " must one day be the centre of London." 

 The passage this is supposed to be based on, is that 

 which used to be said to foretell railways, and now 

 people see in it a foreshadowing of motor cars. At 

 one time also the marriage reference which is in the 

 same poem was applied to Queen Victoria. The lines 

 are these — 



'♦ Carriages without horses shall go. 

 And accidents fill the world with woe : 

 Primrose Hill in London shall be, 

 And in its centre a Bishop's see. 



The British Olive next shall twine, 

 In marriage with the German Vine. 



The early editions of the prophecy contain none of 

 these lines except the two last, which are quoted in the 

 1687 edition, and are there interpreted to refer to the 

 marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James L, and the 



