PREFACE 
In spite of the abundance of books on London, not 
one exists which tells the story of the Parks and 
Gardens as a whole. Some of the Royal Parks have 
been dealt with, and most of the Municipal Parks, but 
in separate works. When Squares are touched on, in 
guide-books, or in volumes to themselves, the Gardens 
are for the most part left alone, and gossip of the 
inhabitants forms the centre of the narrative. This is 
the case also with public buildings and private houses 
which have gardens attached to them. To give a 
sketch of the history of the more important Parks and 
Gardens, and to point out any features of horticultural 
interest, is the object of the following pages. London 
is such a wide word, and means such a different area 
at various periods, that it has been necessary to make 
some hard and fast rule to define the scope of this 
work. I have, therefore, decided to keep strictly to 
the limits of the County of London within the official 
boundaries of the London County Council at the present 
time. 
I would express my thanks to the authorities of the 
