REGENT'S PARK 105 



Elector Palatine. The Primrose Hill lines first made 

 their appearance in 1877! So, although now quite 

 surrounded by houses, and well within the County of 

 London, that this would be so in time to come, was not 

 foretold three hundred years ago. 



The delightfully rural name dates from the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth, and is said to be derived from the 

 number of primroses which grew there. The earlier 

 name was Barrow Hill, from supposed ancient burials. 

 After the mysterious murder of Sir Edmondsbury God- 

 frey in October 1678, his body was found in a ditch 

 at the foot of the hill. At one time the superstitious 

 thought his ghost haunted the place, and a contemporary 

 medal has this inscription — 



" Godfrey walks up hill after he was dead ; 

 [St.] Denis walks down hill carrying his head." 



The fresh air and pleasant view from the top of the 

 hill, and the cheery sounds of games, have long ago 

 dispelled all these gloomy memories. 



