FORESTRY 



Hyde Park, at the Restoration, was included among the resumeu 

 crown lands. It was replenished with deer and surrounded with a brick 

 wall in the place of the former pales. This wall stood until 1726, when 

 a new and higher wall, 8 ft. on the outside, was erected. Iron railings 

 were first introduced in 1828." 



In June, 1660, Charles II granted the custody of Hyde Park to his 

 youngest brother, the Duke of Gloucester, at a salary of 8*/. a day, 77 but 

 he died of the small pox within a few months of his appointment, and 

 in September Colonel John Hamilton, who gave his name to Hamilton 

 Place, was appointed in his stead. 77 



The purchaser of the Kensington division of the Park, at the sale of 

 1652, was one John Tracey, who gave 3,906 js. bd. for the lot, 

 including the timber. In September, 1660, Tracey petitioned the crown, 

 begging to be allowed to retain two houses which he had built on the 

 road at Knightsbridge to save him from ruin. He stated that he had 

 been for thirty-eight years a merchant in the United Provinces, and 

 returning in 1652, ignorant of affairs, was induced to buy part of the 

 crown lands in Hyde Park, but he had not cut down the timber and had 

 never been engaged in hostilities. 78 In 1662 Charles II consented to 

 dispark certain portions of the park, at the Kensington end, in favour of 

 Solicitor-general Finch. 79 



In April, 1 664, a grant was made by the crown to James Hamilton, 

 park ranger, and to John Birch, auditor of excise, of 55 acres of land on 

 the borders of Hyde Park, to be planted with apple trees for apples or 

 cider, reserving a right of way from Westminster to Kensington, on con- 

 dition of their inclosing and planting the ground at their own expense, 

 paying a rental of 5, and giving half the apples or the cider for the use 

 of the king's household. The apples were to consist chiefly of golden 

 pippins and redstreaks. 80 



The custom of charging for the admission of coaches and horsemen 

 to Hyde Park, introduced during the Commonwealth, was continued to 

 a large extent when the park was resumed by the crown. James Hamilton, 

 the ranger, was ordered, in April, 1664, to water the passage from the 

 gate to where the coaches resorted in the park, to avoid the annoyance 

 of dust, the expense to be borne by a charge of 6d. on each coach ; at 

 the same time he was instructed to prevent all horses entering the park 

 save such as have gentlemen or livery servants on them. 91 



Many particulars might be given as to the use of Hyde Park during 

 the centuries following the Restoration, such as military reviews, royal 

 birthday celebrations, robberies, duels, or executions but such details 

 can readily be found in various well-known works on London. 



A number of deer remained in the park until the year 1831; but they 

 never roamed at large throughout the park after the Restoration, being 

 penned off in a large inclosure in the north-west corner, termed Buckdean 



Ti Larwood, S/ory of the Land. Parks, 73. " S.P. Dom. Chas. II, v, 75. 



" Ibid, xvii, 64. " Ibid, lii, 13, 114. 



80 Pat. 16 Chas. II, pt. 18, m. 7 ; S.P. Dom. Chas. II, xcvii, 23. 

 * S.P. Dom. Chas. II, xcvii, 63. 



237 



