312 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



in 1669, given to the Royal Society, but the buildings 

 were too dilapidated for them to use. To Sir Stephen 

 Fox is probably due the idea of founding a hospital 

 for disabled soldiers, although tradition also attributes 

 some of the credit to Nell Gwynn, who is said to 

 have appealed to Charles II. on their behalf. The King 

 laid the foundation-stone, on the 12th of March 1682, 

 of the building designed by Wren. John Evelyn, as 

 one of the Council of the Royal Society, had been 

 consulted when the idea was first mooted, and in 

 January 1682 he notes in his Diary a talk on the 

 subject with Sir Stephen Fox, who asked for Evelyn's 

 assistance with regard to the staff and management. 

 So in Sir Stephen's study, as Evelyn writes, "We 

 arranged the governor, chaplain, steward, housekeeper, 

 chirurgeon, cook, butler, gardener, porter, and other 

 officers, with their several salaries and entertainments." 

 This list of officials shows the importance of the Garden 

 from the first — and no wonder, as the grounds occupied 

 some twenty-six acres. A survey made in 1702 shows 

 how this space was divided. The largest part, lying 

 to the north of the Hospital, is what is now known 

 as *' Burton's Court," and is used as a recreation ground 

 for the soldiers in the barracks near, and a cricket 

 ground for the brigade of Guards. The avenue down 

 the central walk, " planted with limes and chestnuts," 

 was included in the early design, and " Royal Avenue " 

 is a continuation of it. Queen Anne having, it is said, 

 intended to carry it on to Kensington. This part, 

 called " the great court north of the buildings," occupied 

 over thirteen acres. The rest was divided into grass 

 plots between the quadrangle courts and canals, nearly 

 three acres; the "garden on the east, now the gover- 



