io 4 LONDON PARKS © GARDENS 
The present timber fence has stood for forty years, so 
even from an economical point of view iron, which re¬ 
quires painting, could not be recommended. It is to be 
hoped the old traditional style of fence of this delight¬ 
ful Park may be continued. 
To the north of Regent’s Park, and only divided 
from it by a road, lies Primrose Hill. This curious 
conical hill, 216 feet high, so well known as an open 
space enjoyed by the public, formerly belonged to 
Eton College, but became Crown property about the 
middle of last century, and is now under the Office of 
Works, who keep it in order, and have done all the 
planting which has of late years improved this other¬ 
wise bare eminence. Some of the guide-books to London 
refer to the lines of Mother Shipton’s prophecy that 
Primrose Hill “ must one day be the centre of London.” 
The passage this is supposed to be based on, is that 
which used to be said to foretell railways, and now 
people see in it a foreshadowing of motor cars. At 
one time also the marriage reference which is in the 
same poem was applied to Queen Victoria. The lines 
are these— 
“ Carriages without horses shall go. 
And accidents fill the world with woe : 
Primrose Hill in London shall be, 
And in its centre a Bishop’s see. 
The British Olive next shall twine, 
In marriage with the German Vine.” 
The early editions of the prophecy contain none of 
these lines except the two last, which are quoted in the 
1687 edition, and are there interpreted to refer to the 
marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James L, and the 
