MUNICIPAL PARKS 
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the Archbishops of York, but none of them ever lived 
there except Heath, in Queen ■ Mary’s time, who was the 
first to possess it. It was let, as a rule, to the Keepers 
of the Great Seal, and Bacon lived there. George Villiers, 
Duke of Buckingham, pulled down most of the old 
house, and commenced rebuilding. Nothing now remains 
but the Water Gate, supposed to be by Inigo Jones, 
although the design is also attributed to Nicholas Stone, 
who built it. The house and gardens were sold and 
divided in 1672. Buckingham Street and the streets 
adjoining are built on the site, and all that is left is 
the fine old gateway, with most modern-looking gardens 
between it and the river, which once flowed up to its 
arches. 
Another Embankment recreation ground is the Island 
Garden, Poplar, and it is one that is also much appreciated. 
It was made on some ground not required for ship-build¬ 
ing or docks on the river front of the Isle of Dogs, and 
opened to the public in 1895. The idea of making a 
garden of it had for some few years been in contempla¬ 
tion, and as soon as the necessary funds were found, this 
space, somewhat less than three acres, was saved from 
being built over, and a wide walk of about 700 feet 
made along the river embankment. The view from the 
seats, with which it is plentifully supplied, over towards 
Greenwich Hospital and Park makes it a really charming 
promenade. The quaint name of this part of London is 
said to be derived from the fact that the kennels of the 
sporting dogs of the royal residents of Greenwich Palace 
were kept there, “ which usually making a great noise, 
the seamen and others thereupon called the place the Isle 
of Dogs.” This seems the most plausible of the various 
definitions of the name of this peninsula—for it is only 
