BAGSHOT PARK 3j 



Evelyn and Pepys, the two immortal diarists of the seventeenth 

 century, journeyed to Portsmouth together. They were both 

 in charge of different departments connected with the Navy. 

 Evelyn's account of the expedition says, " I accompanied 

 Mr. Pepys to Portsmouth, whither his Majesty was going 

 the first time since his coming to the Crown, to see in what 

 state the fortifications were. We took coach and six horses, 

 late after dinner, yet got to Bagshot (26 m.) that night. 

 Whilst supper was making ready I went and made a visit to 

 Mrs. Graham, some time maid of honour to the Queen 

 Dowager, now wife to James Graham, Esq. of the privy purse 

 to the King ; her house being a walk in the forest, within a 

 little of a quarter mile from Bagshot town. . . . There is a 

 park full of red deer about it." The next month saw Evelyn 

 again " dining at Mr. Graham's lodge at Bagshot ; the house 

 new repair'd and capacious enough for a good family, stands 

 in a Park." Although no direct statement to that effect is 

 made by Evelyn, the facts of proximity to Bagshot village, of 

 the house being in a park with deer in it, and the positions 

 about court of Mr. and Mrs. Graham, all point to the con- 

 clusion that their house was the royal hunting lodge lent to 

 them as faithful servants of the Crown. 



Ever since the Restoration the estate has been enclosed, and 

 being planted with trees of all kinds, especially pines and 

 Scotch firs, is remarkable for the beauty of its forest scenery. 

 It is situated on the extreme western border of county Surrey, 

 about 9 miles south-west of Windsor. Nearness to Windsor 

 no doubt partly accounts for Bagshot Park having been so 

 long a favourite royal recreation and residential estate, though 

 its own merits alone have given it attractiveness enough. 

 The Stuart Kings were often there, and George IV., when 

 Prince of Wales, sometimes resided in the hunting lodge. In 

 1 8 16 the Duke of Gloucester, after his marriage to Princess 

 Mary, daughter of George III., made it his home. For thirty 

 years or so it has been the principal country residence of 

 Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. 

 Situated as it is, about half-way between Windsor and Alder- 



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