136 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



of an East End Park was admitted, the work of 

 forming one was carried out by the Commissioners of 

 Woods and Forests. An Act passed in 1840 enabled 

 them to sell York House to the Duke of Sutherland 

 (hence it became Stafford House), for ^72,000, and 

 to purchase about 290 acres of land in the East End 

 in the parishes of Hackney, Bethnal Green, and Bow. 

 Part of this was reserved for building improved dwel- 

 lings, and 193 acres formed Victoria Park, the laying 

 out of which began in 1842. Thirty years later, when 

 some of the land adjoining was about to be built on, 

 the Metropolitan Board of Works bought some 24 acres 

 to add to the Park, the whole of which, including 

 the new part, was under the Office of Works. Other 

 additions have been made from time to time, chiefly 

 with a view to opening entrances to the Park, so as 

 to make it as easy of access as possible from the crowded 

 districts in the direction of Limehouse and the docks, 

 and round Mile End Road. 



The ground which the Park covers was chiefly 

 brick-fields and market-gardens, and Bishop's Hall 

 Farm. The latter place is the only part with any 

 historical association. The farm was in the manor of 

 Stepney, which was held by the Bishops of London, 

 and Bishop's or Bonner's Hall was the Manor House. 

 Many of the Bishops of London resided here in early 

 days. Stowe, in 1598, referring to Bishop Richard de 

 Gravesend in 1280, writes: "It appeareth by the 

 Charter [of free] warren granted to this Bishop, that (in 

 his time) there were two Woods in the Parish of Stebun- 

 heth [Stepney], pertaining to the said Bishop : I have 

 (since I kept house for my selfe) knowne the one of 

 them by Bishops Hall^ but now they are both made 



