§4 ROYAL GARDENS 



heroic poets ; and if as a critic I may single out any passage 

 of their works to commend, I shall take notice of that part 

 in the upper garden at Kensington which was at first nothing 

 but a gravel-pit. It must have been a fine genius for garden- 

 ing, that could have thought of forming such an unsightly 

 hollow into so beautiful an area, and to have hit the eye with 

 so uncommon and agreeable a scene as that which it is now 

 wrought into." 



In 1 69 1 part of the " new house at Kensington " was burnt, 

 but it was soon restored. And about five years afterwards 

 Evelyn went to see it in its, for the time being, finished 

 condition. He says, " It is very noble, tho' not greate," 

 and " the gardens about it very delicious." And in that state 

 it was when William died. 



Queen Anne very often resided at Kensington Palace. And 

 during her reign several important improvements were made. 

 Bowack, in 1705, says there was in the garden "a noble 

 collection of foreign plants, and fine neat greens, which 

 makes it pleasant all the year. Her Majesty has been pleased 

 lately to plant near 30 acres more to the north, separated 

 from the rest only by a stately greenhouse, not yet finished." 

 This must refer to Wren's beautiful Orangery which is such 

 a notable feature in the gardens now. Originally built as a 

 banqueting-house it was sometimes used for the purpose, 

 and at others for Watteau-like fetes and entertainments. It 

 was behind this building that Thackeray makes the interview 

 between Queen Anne and the " old Pretender " take place. 

 Every one will remember his wonderful account of it in 

 Esmond. Thackeray once lived almost in sight of this 

 very spot, for he built himself a house on the west side of 

 Palace Gardens ; and many references to Kensington occur 

 in his works. When the Court finally left the palace, 

 Wren's fine building was converted into a ' greenhouse,' or 

 Orangery, and as such it exists to this day. 



In the additions to the garden made by Queen Anne, 

 Henry Wise was employed alone ; and the fact of the 

 gardens being described by Evelyn in September 1701 as 



