136 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 
of an East End Park was admitted, the work of 
forming one was carried out by the Commissioners of 
Woods and Forests. An Act passed in 1840 enabled 
them to sell York House to the Duke of Sutherland 
(hence it became Stafford House), for ,£72,000, and 
to purchase about 290 acres of land in the East End 
in the parishes of Hackney, Bethnal Green, and Bow. 
Part of this was reserved for building improved dwel¬ 
lings, and 193 acres formed Victoria Park, the laying 
out of which began in 1842. Thirty years later, when 
some of the land adjoining was about to be built on, 
the Metropolitan Board of Works bought some 24 acres 
to add to the Park, the whole of which, including 
the new part, was under the Office of Works. Other 
additions have been made from time to time, chiefly 
with a view to opening entrances to the Park, so as 
to make it as easy of access as possible from the crowded 
districts in the direction of Limehouse and the docks, 
and round Mile End Road. 
The ground which the Park covers was chiefly 
brick-fields and market-gardens, and Bishop’s Hall 
Farm. The latter place is the only part with any 
historical association. The farm was in the manor of 
Stepney, which was held by the Bishops of London, 
and Bishop’s or Bonner’s Hall was the Manor House. 
Many of the Bishops of London resided here in early 
days. Stowe, in 1598, referring to Bishop Richard de 
Gravesend in 1280, writes: “It appeareth by the 
Charter [of free] warren granted to this Bishop, that (in 
his time) there were two Woods in the Parish of Stebun- 
heth [Stepney], pertaining to the said Bishop: I have 
(since I kept house for my selfe) knowne the one of 
them by Bishops Hall\ but now they are both made 
