286 
OBSERVATORY. 
The observatory was built for с ПІ. in 1769 by Sir William 
Chambers for the purpose of obse the transit of Venus which 
occurred in that year. The old РНЕ in Kew House had fallen 
into disuse. 
The Rev. Stephen Demaimbray succeeded his father Dr. Demaimbray 
in 1782 as superintendent of the observatory. He retired on a pension 
in 1840, when the observatory was abandoned by the Royal family. 
Latterly fey was assisted by his nephew Pro pi = who took 
charge of the observatory during the Oxford vacatio 
Evans (p. xi) describes in 1824 the changes which had taken place in 
the Deer Park, as pointed out to him by Rigau 
* Strolling one day into Richmond Gardens to ascertain where the old er posi 
Palace of Sue the don d and of Queen и with its far- ar adja 
Merlin’s Cave e author had the good fortune to meet there 8. P. tigand 
Esq., of the koai ‘Ob перад seb ge ти sor of Ся metry, Ox for d dis- 
inguished for his mathematical attainm MT теу nd out 
to him, though a stranger, the spot vh these боа to be found. 
Two hawthorn bushes, now blown down by the wind, till lately indicated where this 
yen of kings e т быр its broad foundations, and reared its turrets to the sky. 
As atter of fact it was a very plain house, deetitute of turrets.] Even its 
ruins н disappeared. It is swept into oblivion . . Richmond Gardens 
existed, and were in the zenith ‘of their popularity before Kew Gardens (ure into 
distinction. But it has been stripped of its horticultural Beauties bine гт fri Mime the 
with a pla 
Green, have also vanished ; t down it is said with a number of fine elms; the 
latter were used in pee the common sewers of the metropolis of Scotland ! 
Indeed this truly celebrated spot is reduced to an humble, but spacious plot o 
meadow ground, stretching from near the Pagoda, at the southern extremity of the 
Kew Gardens, to the village of Richmond.” 
The “ Terrace” spoken of by ese ag сап still be traced, though 
it is now only a turfed avenue by th 
i eni sas: (p. 130) on the authority of < “а LOL friend, of Brent- 
terrace near the river was squat, гну on Sunday evening, with a 
ia rse of nobility and gentry! Stars and ribbons and garters glistened on the 
eye in chinterrtipted succession, No music ‘exhilarated the company, but the trans- 
sear stream of old father Thames glided by with an equable and enviable 
placidity.” 
The actual topographical veo of the Richmond Gardens, as they 
now form part of the Pleasure "шал: is extremely difficult to trace. 
A path starting from the side of Kew House and running across the 
Palace lawn takes a further course nd the Pleasure Grounds, and 
ends at Tus head of the Hollow Walk. It is known traditionally as the 
Princess’s Walk. Another walk starting from the same point at the 
ford Walk. The local tradition is ярап these three walks, the 
veu: Stafford, and Hollow Walk, were made in the reign of 
e IIT. by the Staffordshire. Militia ‘eho quartered at Kew, and 
at isa expense of the Dowager Princess of Wales. The Hollow Walk, 
which is one of the prettiest ere in the grounds, is shown on a 
* Plan of the Royal Manor of Richm made by Thomas Richardson 
for Peter Burrell, ME His is Majesty's S 8 Messina Soon in 1771. A 
this Museums by Her Majesty the 
The Hollow Walk (and the others) must therefore have been 
