312 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 
in 1669, given to the Royal Society, but the buildings 
were too dilapidated for them to use. To Sir Stephen 
Fox is probably due the idea of founding a hospital 
for disabled soldiers, although tradition also attributes 
some of the credit to Nell Gwynn, who is said to 
have appealed to Charles II. on their behalf. The King 
laid the foundation-stone, on the 12th of March 1682, 
of the building designed by Wren. John Evelyn, as 
one of the Council of the Royal Society, had been 
consulted when the idea was first mooted, and in 
January 1682 he notes in his Diary a talk on the 
subject with Sir Stephen Fox, who asked for Evelyn’s 
assistance with regard to the staff and management. 
So in Sir Stephen’s study, as Evelyn writes, “We 
arranged the governor, chaplain, steward, housekeeper, 
chirurgeon, cook, butler, gardener, porter, and other 
officers, with their several salaries and entertainments.” 
This list of officials shows the importance of the Garden 
from the first—and no wonder, as the grounds occupied 
some twenty-six acres. A survey made in 1702 shows 
how this space was divided. The largest part, lying 
to the north of the Hospital, is what is now known 
as “ Burton’s Court,” and is used as a recreation ground 
for the soldiers in the barracks near, and a cricket 
ground for the brigade of Guards. The avenue down 
the central walk, “ planted with limes and chestnuts,” 
was included in the early design, and “ Royal Avenue ” 
is a continuation of it, Queen Anne having, it is said, 
intended to carry it on to Kensington. This part, 
called “the great court north of the buildings,” occupied 
over thirteen acres. The rest was divided into grass 
plots between the quadrangle courts and canals, nearly 
three acres; the “garden on the east, now the gover- 
