A HERBACEOUS BORDER IN GREENWICH PARK. 



NATURE IN TOWN" 



GREENWICH PARK 



By ARTHUR SCAMMELL 

 Illustrated with Photographs by W. J. VASEY 



THE tide of modern industrialism 

 has long ago flowed over the district 

 of Greenwich, sweeping away much, 

 and disfiguring all ; but there are parts 

 of the town where yet the steep and 

 crooked streets, the old Kentish houses 

 set in older gardens, and the dominance 

 of venerable high-set trees, keep for the 

 place something of its ancient and royal 

 distinction. 



And that which is true of the town is 

 still more characteristic of Greenwicli 

 Park. The steep escarpment, with the 

 great ship-laden river at its feet, the 

 prevalence of large and ancient timber, 



98 1^^ 



the stately avenues, the deer, the land- 

 scape gardening of the Stuarts, antl the 

 architecture of Wren, combine to remind 

 us at least of its former condition as a 

 noble and stately domain, a home for 

 kings rather than the resort of a pojnilare. 

 It is impossible to separate from tiic 

 enjoyment felt in this beautiful scene a 

 strong sense of the numerous associations 

 wiiich attach to it. Romans, Danes. 

 Saxons, have left vestiges of their works 

 here, and their ashes still lie beneath the 

 turf. Where is now the Naval Hospital 

 stood the Royal Palace of Pkuentia, 

 much favoured of Tudor and Stuart 



