http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/new-plans-boost-further-education-12892270
New plans to boost further education lead to fears over much-loved Kensington campus
Goolistan Cooper
06:00, 25 APR 2017
Kensington and Chelsea College could move out of Wornington Road as it looks to improve education, leading to concerns over the building's future
Fears have been raised that a much-loved campus could be demolished after plans to modernise further education in North Kensington were revealed.
Kensington and Chelsea College is considering moving from its Wornington Road campus as it plans to modernise facilities and improve further education for school leavers and adults.
The building, commonly referred to as Wornington College, is considered too large and lacking the high-quality accommodation enjoyed by many colleges around the country.
Kensington and Chelsea College said it is considering replacing facilities nearby or on-site, leading to fears of its demolition.
A Save Wornington College campaign has been launched, and a petition signed by 1,638 people will be handed into a Kensington and Chelsea meeting on Wednesday (April 26).
The college says it will increase its intake of students under proposals, and that it remains committed to staying in North Kensington, whether at the current site or nearby.
Michele Sutton CBE, interim principal of the college, said: “The building at Wornington Road has served the college well for many years but even the most nostalgic among us would agree that the facilities could be improved.
“We are staying put in the neighbourhood but we need to ensure that our students are enjoying the kind of environment they deserve when they come to college.”
But a spokesperson for Save Wornington College argued: “The community take great pride in the impact that the college has had on livelihoods, proficiency in English, family prosperity and GDP in the borough and beyond. It has also received Gold Star Awards as a Centre of Excellence for teacher training.”
They fear the site will be redeveloped as housing, and the impact on education. The spokesperson continued: “Students past and present are anxious that the proposed demolition will impact significantly on the capacity of the college to continue to offer the facilities and diversity of courses it currently provides.”
Ex Wornington College student Bernard Shaw added: “We don’t need any more unaffordable housing in North Kensington but what we do need is educational opportunities that inspire and progress the life chances of the community in one of the poorest areas of London.”
The college also has a campus at Hortensia Road, Chelsea, and is well-known for its creative courses. It is the leading provider of 16-18 and adult education in the borough and draws students from across London and beyond – particularly from the surrounding boroughs.
It teaches a range of subjects including art, design, fashion, millinery, photography, music production, humanities, hair and beauty, teacher training, child care, health, print and accounting.
The college has close ties with world-famous Portobello Market near its North Kensington campus.
Mrs Sutton added: “It’s really time that the community in North Kensington enjoyed facilities which match those we already have down in Chelsea.
“I know from my experience across the FE sector that, while it's good teaching that counts most, everyone does better in good modern facilities that are inspirational not just to existing students but also those thinking of studying with us in the future.”
The college is holding a community event at Wornington Road on June 29 from 3pm to 6pm to give people the opportunity to meet staff and share their views about the future of the college’s provision in North Kensington.
Save Wornington College will hold a rally from 6pm on Wednesday (April 26) outside council offices at Kensington Town Hall in Hornton Street before the meeting, which begins at 6.30pm.
Thursday, October 19, 2017
1983 - London England - Hyde Park
Hyde Park - London Englad
Hyde Park is a nice green space and many Londoners, just as many people in large 'concrete' cities; use the land to picnic, walk, run, play with their dogs, play with their children. It's just a great outdoor space. There is a lake in the middle of it, called The Serpentine (River). We went to Westminister one day and visited several places and decided to take a few minutes walking around Hyde Park.
Hyde Park is a nice green space and many Londoners, just as many people in large 'concrete' cities; use the land to picnic, walk, run, play with their dogs, play with their children. It's just a great outdoor space. There is a lake in the middle of it, called The Serpentine (River). We went to Westminister one day and visited several places and decided to take a few minutes walking around Hyde Park.
The first amazing thing was the Entryway...The Wellington Arch. It is HUGE!! I was in awe walking up to this 2 story monument. Maybe 3 stories. You walked in under the monument. I felt like I'd already won the lottery with that.
We walked past "The Speakers Corner" This location has historically been there to allow a location for free speech. Anything bothers you, step up on the stone and present your case. Protests have happened there too throughout history.
Terry decided to row us around on a small boat on Serpentine Lake, and I took advantage to rest and stick my feet in the water. I'm wearing a blue jean mini skirt and that crisp shades or blue (and white) top. I really truly miss being that size, being that young and being that free. But I love my life as it is now. I just miss London a lot.
Here at the pictures I took.
Here at the pictures I took.
I took this picture of Terry while he was rowing. Evidently I can't take a good picture while lying down.
Hyde Park is a Grade I-registered major park in Central London. It is the largest of four Royal Parks that form a chain from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park past the main entrance to Buckingham Palace. The park is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water.
The park was established by Henry VIII in 1536 when he took the land from Westminster Abbey and used it as a hunting ground. It opened to the public in 1637 and quickly became popular, particularly for May Day parades. Major improvements occurred in the early 18th century under the direction of Queen Caroline. Several duels took place in Hyde Park during this time, often involving members of the nobility. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held in the park, for which the Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton, was erected.
Free speech and demonstrations have been a key feature of Hyde Park since the 19th century. Speaker's Corner has been established as a point of free speech and debate since 1872, while the Chartists, the Reform League, the suffragettes, and the Stop the War Coalition have all held protests there. In the late 20th century, the park became known for holding large-scale free rock music concerts, featuring groups such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Queen. Commercial concerts have continued into the 21st century, such as Live 8 in 2005.
To the west, Hyde Park merges with Kensington Gardens. The dividing line runs approximately between Alexandra Gate to Victoria Gate via West Carriage Drive and the Serpentine Bridge. The Serpentine is to the south of the park area.[2] Kensington Gardens has been separate from Hyde Park since 1728, when Queen Caroline divided them. Hyde Park covers 142 hectares (350 acres),[5] and Kensington Gardens covers 111 hectares (275 acres),[6] giving a total area of 253 hectares (625 acres).[a] During daylight, the two parks merge seamlessly into each other, but Kensington Gardens closes at dusk, and Hyde Park remains open throughout the year from 5 a.m. until midnight.[3]
In 1652, during the Interregnum, Parliament ordered the then 620-acre (250 ha) park to be sold for "ready money". It realised £17,000 with an additional £765 6s 2d for the resident deer.[12][13] During the Great Plague of London in 1665, Hyde Park was used as a military camp.[2] Following the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Charles II retook ownership of Hyde Park and enclosed it in a brick wall. He restocked deer in what is now Buck Hill in Kensington Gardens. The May Day parade continued to be a popular event; Samuel Pepys took part in the park's celebrations in 1663 while attempting to gain the King's favour.[14]
In 1689, William III moved his residence to Kensington Palace
on the far side of Hyde Park and had a drive laid out across its
southern edge which was known as the King's Private Road. The drive is
still in existence as a wide straight gravelled carriage track leading
west from Hyde Park Corner across the southern boundary of Hyde Park towards Kensington Palace and now known as Rotten Row, possibly a corruption of rotteran (to muster),[7] Ratten Row (roundabout way), Route du roi, or rotten (the soft material with which the road is covered).[15] It is believed to be the first road in London to be lit at night, which was done to deter highwaymen. In 1749, Horace Walpole was robbed while travelling through the park from Holland House.[16] The row was used by the wealthy for horseback rides in the early 19th century.[17]
Hyde Park was a popular duelling spot during the 18th century, with 172 taking place, leading to 63 fatalities.[18] Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun fought James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton in a duel in 1712. Baron Mohun was killed instantly, while the Duke died shortly afterwards. John Wilkes fought Samuel Martin in 1772, as did Richard Brinsley Sheridan with Captain Thomas Mathews over the latter's libellous comments about Sheridan's fiancee Elizabeth Ann Linley. Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow fought Andrew Stuart in a Hyde Park duel in 1770.[16] Military executions were common in Hyde Park at this time; John Rocque's Map of London, 1746 marks a point inside the park, close to the Tyburn gallows, as "where soldiers are shot."[19][b]
The first coherent landscaping in Hyde Park began in 1726. It was undertaken by Charles Bridgeman for King George I, but following the king's death the following year, it continued with approval of his daughter-in-law, Queen Caroline.[16][21] Work was undertaken under the supervision of Charles Withers, the Surveyor-General of Woods and Forests. The principal effect of the work was to sub-divide Hyde Park and create Kensington Gardens.[22][c] The Serpentine was formed by damming the River Westbourne, which runs through the park from Kilburn towards the Thames. It is divided from the Long Water by a bridge designed by George Rennie in 1826.[16]
The work was completed in 1733. The 2nd Viscount Weymouth was made Ranger of Hyde Park in 1739 and shortly after began digging the Serpentine lakes at Longleat.[23] A powder magazine was built north of the Serpentine in 1805.[16]
Hyde Park hosted a Great Fair in the summer of 1814 to celebrate the Allied sovereigns' visit to England, and exhibited various stalls and shows. The Battle of Trafalgar
was re-enacted on the Serpentine, with a band playing the National
Anthem while the French fleet sank into the lake. The coronation of King George IV in 1821 was celebrated with a fair in the park, including an air balloon and firework displays.[16]
One of the most important events to take place in Hyde Park was the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Crystal Palace was constructed on the south side of the park.[16] The public did not want the building to remain after the closure of the exhibition, and its architect, Joseph Paxton, raised funds and purchased it. He had it moved to Sydenham Hill in South London.[24] Another significant event was the first Victoria Cross investiture, on 26 June 1857, when 62 men were decorated by Queen Victoria in the presence of Prince Albert and other members of the Royal Family, including their future son-in-law Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia, later Emperor Frederick III.[25]
The Hyde Park Lido sits on the south bank of the Serpentine. It opened in 1930 to provide improved support for bathing and sunbathing in the park, which had been requested by the naturist group, the Sunlight League. The Lido and accompanying Pavilion was designed by the Commissioner of Works, George Lansbury, and was partly funded by a £5,000 (now £285,000) donation from D'Arcy Cooper. It still sees regular use in the summer into the 21st century.[26][27]
Hyde Park has been a major venue for several Royal jubilees and celebrations. For the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, a party was organised on 22 June where around 26,000 school children were given a free meal as a gift. The Queen and the Prince of Wales made an unexpected appearance at the event. Victoria remained fond of Hyde Park in the final years of her life and often drove there twice a day.[28] As part of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, a Jubilee Exhibition was set up in Hyde Park,[27] with the Queen and Prince Philip visiting on 30 June.[29] In 2012, a major festival took place in the park as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.[30] On 6 February, the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun Royal Salute at Hyde Park Corner.[31]
On 20 July 1982, in the Hyde Park and Regents Park bombings, two devices linked to the Provisional Irish Republican Army caused the death of eight members of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Green Jackets and seven horses.[32] A memorial was constructed to the left of the Albert Gate to commemorate the soldiers and horses killed in the blast.[33]
Since 2007, Hyde Park has played host to the annual Winter Wonderland event, which features numerous Christmas-themed markets, along with various rides and attractions, alongside bars and restaurants. It has become one of the largest Christmas events in Europe, having attracted over 14 million visitors as of 2016,[34][35] and has expanded to include the largest ice rink in London, live entertainment and circuses.[36]
On 18 September 2010, Hyde Park was the setting for a prayer vigil with Pope Benedict XVI as part of his visit to the United Kingdom, attended by around 80,000 people. A large crowd assembled along the Mall to see the Pope arrive for his address.[37][38] An attempt to assassinate the Pope had been foiled after five street cleaners were spotted within a mile of Hyde Park, and arrested along with sixth suspect.[39]
During the late 18th century, plans were made to replace the old toll
gate at Hyde Park Corner with a grander entrance, following the
gentrification of the area surrounding it. The first design was put
forward by Robert Adam in 1778 as a grand archway, followed by John Soane's 1796 proposal to build a new palace adjacent to the corner in Green Park.[40]
Following the construction of Buckingham Palace, the improvement plans were revisited. The grand entrance to the park at Hyde Park Corner was designed by Decimus Burton, and was constructed in the 1820s.[40] Burton laid out the paths and driveways and designed a series of lodges, the Screen/Gate at Hyde Park Corner (also known as the Grand Entrance or the Apsley Gate) in 1825[16] and the Wellington Arch, which opened in 1828.[41] The Screen and the Arch originally formed a single composition, designed to provide a monumental transition between Hyde Park and Green Park, although the arch was moved in 1883. It originally had a statue of the Duke of Wellington on top; it was moved to Aldershot in 1883 when the arch was re-sited.[41]
An early description reports:
Popular areas within Hyde Park include Speakers' Corner (located in the northeast corner near Marble Arch), close to the former site of the Tyburn gallows,[43] and Rotten Row, which is the northern boundary of the site of the Crystal Palace.[3]
During the late 20th century, over 9,000 elm trees in Hyde Park were killed by Dutch elm disease. This included many trees along the great avenues planted by Queen Caroline, which were ultimately replaced by limes and maples.[40][44] The park now holds 4 acres (1.6 ha) of greenhouses which hold the bedding plants for the Royal Parks. A scheme is available to adopt trees in the park, which helps fund their upkeep and maintenance.[40] A botanical curiosity is the weeping beech, which is known as "the upside-down tree".[45] A rose garden, designed by Colvin & Moggridge Landscape Architects, was added in 1994.[46]
There are a number of assorted statues and memorials around Hyde
Park. The Cavalry Memorial was built in 1924 at Stanhope Gate. It moved
to the Serpentine Road when Park Lane was widened to traffic in 1961.[47] South of the Serpentine is the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial, an oval stone ring fountain opened on 6 July 2004.[48] To the east of the Serpentine, just beyond the dam, is London's Holocaust Memorial.[49] The 7 July Memorial in the park commemorates the victims of 7 July 2005 London bombings.[50]
The Standing Stone is a 7-tonne (7.7-ton) monolith at the centre of the Dell, to the east of Hyde Park. Made of Cornish stone, it was originally part of a drinking fountain, though an urban legend was established, claiming it was brought from Stonehenge by Charles I.[40]
An assortment of unusual sculptures are scattered around the park, including: Still Water, a massive horse head lapping up water; Jelly Baby Family, a family of giant Jelly Babies standing on top of a large black cube; and Vroom Vroom, which resembles a giant human hand pushing a toy car along the ground.[51] The sculptor Jacob Epstein constructed several works in Hyde Park. His memorial to the author William Henry Hudson, featuring his character Rima caused public outrage when it was unveiled in 1925.[16]
There has been a fountain at Grosvenor Gate since 1863, designed by Alexander Munro. There is another fountain opposite Mount Street on the park's eastern edge.[16]
Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner has acquired an international reputation for demonstrations and other protests[52] due to its tolerance of free speech.[53] In 1855, a protest at the park was organised to demonstrate against Robert Grosvenor's attempt to ban Sunday trading, including a restriction on pub opening times. Karl Marx
observed approximately 200,000 protesters attended the demonstration,
which involved jeering and taunting at upper-class horse carriages. A
further protest occurred a week later, but this time the police attacked
the crowd.[54]
In 1867 the policing of the park was entrusted to the Metropolitan Police, the only royal park so managed, due to the potential for trouble at Speakers' Corner. A Metropolitan Police station ('AH') is situated in the middle of the park. The 1872 Parks Regulation Act created positions of "park keeper" and also provided that "Every police constable belonging to the police force of the district in which any park, garden, or possession to which this Act applies is situate shall have the powers, privileges, and immunities of a park-keeper within such park, garden, or possession."[55]
Speaker's Corner became increasingly popular in the late 19th
century. Visitors brought along placards, stepladders and soap boxes in
order to stand out from others, while heckling of speakers was popular. Donald Soper, Baron Soper was a regular visitor throughout the 20th century, until just before his death in 1998. The rise of the Internet, particularly blogs,
has diminished the importance of Speaker's Corner as a political
platform, and it is increasingly seen as simply a tourist attraction.[43]
As well as Speaker's Corner, several important mass demonstrations have occurred in Hyde Park. On 26 July 1886, the Reform League staged a march from their headquarters towards the park, campaigning for increased suffrage and representation. Though the police had closed the park, the crowd managed to break down the perimeter railings and get inside, leading to the event being dubbed "The Hyde Park Railings Affair". After the protests turned violent, three squadrons of Horse Guards and numerous Foot Guards were sent out from Marble Arch to combat the situation.[56] On 21 June 1908, as part of "Women's Sunday", a reported 750,000 people marched from the Embankment to Hyde Park protesting for universal suffrage. The first protest against the planned 2003 invasion of Iraq took place in Hyde Park on 28 September 2002, with 150,000–350,000 in attendance.[57] A further series of demonstrations happened around the world, culminating in the 15 February 2003, anti-war protests, part of a global demonstration against the Iraq War.[58] Over a million protesters are reported to have attended the Hyde Park event alone.[57]
The music management company Blackhill Enterprises held the first rock concert in Hyde Park on 29 June 1968, attended by 15,000 people. On the bill were Pink Floyd, Roy Harper and Jethro Tull, while John Peel
later said it was "the nicest concert I’ve ever been to". Subsequently,
Hyde Park has featured some of the most significant concerts in rock.
The supergroup Blind Faith (featuring Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood) played their debut gig in Hyde Park on 7 June 1969. The Rolling Stones headlined a concert (later released as The Stones in the Park) on 5 July that year, two days after the death of founding member Brian Jones,
and is now remembered as one of the most famous gigs of the 1960s. Pink
Floyd returned to Hyde Park on 18 July 1970, playing new material from Atom Heart Mother. All of the early gigs from 1968–71 were free events, contrasting sharply with the later commercial endeavours.[60]
Queen played a free concert organised by Richard Branson in the park on 18 September 1976, partway through recording the album A Day at the Races. The band drew an audience of 150,000 – 200,000, which remains the largest crowd for a Hyde Park concert. The group were not allowed to play an encore, and police threatened to arrest frontman Freddie Mercury if he attempted to do so.[61]
The British Live 8 concert took place in Hyde Park on 2 July 2005, as a concert organised by Bob Geldof to raise awareness of increased debts and poverty in the third world. Acts included U2, Coldplay, Elton John, R.E.M., Madonna, The Who and Paul McCartney, and the most anticipated set was the reformation of the classic 1970s line-up of Pink Floyd (including David Gilmour and Roger Waters) for the first time since 1981.[62] The gig was the Floyd's final live performance.[63]
Acts from each of the four nations in the UK played a gig in the park as part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The headliners were Duran Duran, representing England, alongside the Stereophonics for Wales, Paolo Nutini for Scotland and Snow Patrol for Northern Ireland.[64] Since 2011, Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park has taken place each September in the park.[65]
Local residents have become critical of Hyde Park as a concert venue, due to the sound levels, and have campaigned for a maximum sound level of 73 decibels.[66] In June 2012, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney found their microphones switched off after Springsteen had played a three-hour set during the Park's Hard Rock Calling festival, and overshot the 10:30pm curfew time.[67]
In 1998 British artist Marion Coutts recreated Hyde Park, along with Battersea and Regent's Park, as a set of asymmetrical ping-pong tables for her interactive installation Fresh Air.[69]
For the 2012 Summer Olympics, the park hosted the triathlon, which brothers Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee took the Gold and Bronze medals[70] for Team GB, and the 10 km open water swimming events.[71] The park has also hosted the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.[72]
There are five London Underground stations located on or near the edges of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (which is contiguous with Hyde Park). In clockwise order starting from the south-east, they are:[73]
Several main roads run around the perimeter of Hyde Park. Park Lane is part of the London Inner Ring Road and the London Congestion Charge zone boundary. The A4, a major road through West London, runs along the southeastern edge of the park, while the A5, a major road to Milton Keynes and the Midlands runs northwest from Marble Arch.[3]
Transport within the park for people lacking mobility and disabled visitors is provided free of charge by Liberty Drives, located at Triangle Carpark.[74]
Hyde Park, London
| Hyde Park | |
|---|---|
Hyde Park (in foreground) and Kensington Gardens
|
|
Location within central London
|
|
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Westminster in London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′31″N 0°09′49″WCoordinates: 51°30′31″N 0°09′49″W |
| Area | 350 acres (140 ha) |
| Created | 1637[1] |
| Operated by | The Royal Parks |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website | www |
The park was established by Henry VIII in 1536 when he took the land from Westminster Abbey and used it as a hunting ground. It opened to the public in 1637 and quickly became popular, particularly for May Day parades. Major improvements occurred in the early 18th century under the direction of Queen Caroline. Several duels took place in Hyde Park during this time, often involving members of the nobility. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held in the park, for which the Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton, was erected.
Free speech and demonstrations have been a key feature of Hyde Park since the 19th century. Speaker's Corner has been established as a point of free speech and debate since 1872, while the Chartists, the Reform League, the suffragettes, and the Stop the War Coalition have all held protests there. In the late 20th century, the park became known for holding large-scale free rock music concerts, featuring groups such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Queen. Commercial concerts have continued into the 21st century, such as Live 8 in 2005.
Geography
Hyde Park is the largest Royal Park in London. It is bounded on the north by Bayswater Road, to the east by Park Lane, and to the south by Knightsbridge. Further north is Paddington, further east is Mayfair and further south is Belgravia.[2] To the southeast, outside the park, is Hyde Park Corner, beyond which is Green Park, St. James' Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens.[3] The park has been Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens since 1987.[4]To the west, Hyde Park merges with Kensington Gardens. The dividing line runs approximately between Alexandra Gate to Victoria Gate via West Carriage Drive and the Serpentine Bridge. The Serpentine is to the south of the park area.[2] Kensington Gardens has been separate from Hyde Park since 1728, when Queen Caroline divided them. Hyde Park covers 142 hectares (350 acres),[5] and Kensington Gardens covers 111 hectares (275 acres),[6] giving a total area of 253 hectares (625 acres).[a] During daylight, the two parks merge seamlessly into each other, but Kensington Gardens closes at dusk, and Hyde Park remains open throughout the year from 5 a.m. until midnight.[3]
History
Early history
The park's name comes from the Manor of Hyde, which was the northeast sub-division of the manor of Eia (the other two sub-divisions were Ebury and Neyte) and appears as such in the Domesday Book.[7] The name is believed to be of Saxon origin, and means a unit of land, the hide, that was appropriate for the support of a single family and dependents.[8] Through the Middle Ages, it was property of Westminster Abbey, and the woods in the manor were used both for firewood and shelter for game.[7]16th – 17th century
Hyde Park was created for hunting by Henry Vlll in 1536 after he acquired the manor of Hyde from the Abbey.[9] It was enclosed as a deer park and remained a private hunting ground until James I permitted limited access to gentlefolk,[10] appointing a ranger to take charge. Charles I created the Ring (north of the present Serpentine boathouses), and in 1637 he opened the park to the general public.[11] It quickly became a popular gathering place, particularly for May Day celebrations. At the start of the English Civil War in 1642, a series of fortifications were built along the east side of the park, including forts at what is now Marble Arch, Mount Street and Hyde Park Corner. The latter included a strongpoint where visitors to London could be checked and vetted.[2]In 1652, during the Interregnum, Parliament ordered the then 620-acre (250 ha) park to be sold for "ready money". It realised £17,000 with an additional £765 6s 2d for the resident deer.[12][13] During the Great Plague of London in 1665, Hyde Park was used as a military camp.[2] Following the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Charles II retook ownership of Hyde Park and enclosed it in a brick wall. He restocked deer in what is now Buck Hill in Kensington Gardens. The May Day parade continued to be a popular event; Samuel Pepys took part in the park's celebrations in 1663 while attempting to gain the King's favour.[14]
18th century
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun fighting James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton in Hyde Park; both lost their lives.
Hyde Park was a popular duelling spot during the 18th century, with 172 taking place, leading to 63 fatalities.[18] Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun fought James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton in a duel in 1712. Baron Mohun was killed instantly, while the Duke died shortly afterwards. John Wilkes fought Samuel Martin in 1772, as did Richard Brinsley Sheridan with Captain Thomas Mathews over the latter's libellous comments about Sheridan's fiancee Elizabeth Ann Linley. Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow fought Andrew Stuart in a Hyde Park duel in 1770.[16] Military executions were common in Hyde Park at this time; John Rocque's Map of London, 1746 marks a point inside the park, close to the Tyburn gallows, as "where soldiers are shot."[19][b]
Hyde Park c. 1833: Rotten Row is "The King's Private Road"
The work was completed in 1733. The 2nd Viscount Weymouth was made Ranger of Hyde Park in 1739 and shortly after began digging the Serpentine lakes at Longleat.[23] A powder magazine was built north of the Serpentine in 1805.[16]
19th – 21st century
Hyde Park, drawn by Camille Pissarro, 1890
One of the most important events to take place in Hyde Park was the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Crystal Palace was constructed on the south side of the park.[16] The public did not want the building to remain after the closure of the exhibition, and its architect, Joseph Paxton, raised funds and purchased it. He had it moved to Sydenham Hill in South London.[24] Another significant event was the first Victoria Cross investiture, on 26 June 1857, when 62 men were decorated by Queen Victoria in the presence of Prince Albert and other members of the Royal Family, including their future son-in-law Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia, later Emperor Frederick III.[25]
The Hyde Park Lido sits on the south bank of the Serpentine. It opened in 1930 to provide improved support for bathing and sunbathing in the park, which had been requested by the naturist group, the Sunlight League. The Lido and accompanying Pavilion was designed by the Commissioner of Works, George Lansbury, and was partly funded by a £5,000 (now £285,000) donation from D'Arcy Cooper. It still sees regular use in the summer into the 21st century.[26][27]
Hyde Park has been a major venue for several Royal jubilees and celebrations. For the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, a party was organised on 22 June where around 26,000 school children were given a free meal as a gift. The Queen and the Prince of Wales made an unexpected appearance at the event. Victoria remained fond of Hyde Park in the final years of her life and often drove there twice a day.[28] As part of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, a Jubilee Exhibition was set up in Hyde Park,[27] with the Queen and Prince Philip visiting on 30 June.[29] In 2012, a major festival took place in the park as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.[30] On 6 February, the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun Royal Salute at Hyde Park Corner.[31]
The Winter Wonderland festival has been a popular Christmas event in Hyde Park since 2007.
Since 2007, Hyde Park has played host to the annual Winter Wonderland event, which features numerous Christmas-themed markets, along with various rides and attractions, alongside bars and restaurants. It has become one of the largest Christmas events in Europe, having attracted over 14 million visitors as of 2016,[34][35] and has expanded to include the largest ice rink in London, live entertainment and circuses.[36]
On 18 September 2010, Hyde Park was the setting for a prayer vigil with Pope Benedict XVI as part of his visit to the United Kingdom, attended by around 80,000 people. A large crowd assembled along the Mall to see the Pope arrive for his address.[37][38] An attempt to assassinate the Pope had been foiled after five street cleaners were spotted within a mile of Hyde Park, and arrested along with sixth suspect.[39]
Grand Entrance
Decimus Burton's Hyde Park Gate/Screen
Following the construction of Buckingham Palace, the improvement plans were revisited. The grand entrance to the park at Hyde Park Corner was designed by Decimus Burton, and was constructed in the 1820s.[40] Burton laid out the paths and driveways and designed a series of lodges, the Screen/Gate at Hyde Park Corner (also known as the Grand Entrance or the Apsley Gate) in 1825[16] and the Wellington Arch, which opened in 1828.[41] The Screen and the Arch originally formed a single composition, designed to provide a monumental transition between Hyde Park and Green Park, although the arch was moved in 1883. It originally had a statue of the Duke of Wellington on top; it was moved to Aldershot in 1883 when the arch was re-sited.[41]
Decimus Burton's Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner
"It consists of a screen of handsome fluted Ionic columns, with three carriage entrance archways, two foot entrances, a lodge, etc. The extent of the whole frontage is about 107 ft (33 m). The central entrance has a bold projection: the entablature is supported by four columns; and the volutes of the capitals of the outside column on each side of the gateway are formed in an angular direction, so as to exhibit two complete faces to view. The two side gateways, in their elevations, present two insulated Ionic columns, flanked by antae. All these entrances are finished by a blocking, the sides of the central one being decorated with a beautiful frieze, representing a naval and military triumphal procession. This frieze was designed by Mr. Henning, junior, the son of Mr. Henning who was well known for his models of the Elgin Marbles. The gates were manufactured by Messrs. Bramah. They are of iron, bronzed, and fixed or hung to the piers by rings of gun-metal. The design consists of a beautiful arrangement of the Greek honeysuckle ornament; the parts being well defined, and the raffles of the leaves brought out in a most extraordinary manner."[42]The Wellington Arch was extensively restored by English Heritage between 1999–2001. It is now open to the public, who can see a view of the parks from its platforms above the porticoes.[41]
Features
The 7 July Memorial to the victims of the 7 July 2005 London bombings
Botany
Flowers were first planted in Hyde Park in 1860 by William Andrews Nesfield. The next year, the Italian Water Garden was constructed at Victoria Gate, including fountains and a summer house. Queen Anne's Alcove was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was moved to the park from its original location in Kensington Gardens.[16]During the late 20th century, over 9,000 elm trees in Hyde Park were killed by Dutch elm disease. This included many trees along the great avenues planted by Queen Caroline, which were ultimately replaced by limes and maples.[40][44] The park now holds 4 acres (1.6 ha) of greenhouses which hold the bedding plants for the Royal Parks. A scheme is available to adopt trees in the park, which helps fund their upkeep and maintenance.[40] A botanical curiosity is the weeping beech, which is known as "the upside-down tree".[45] A rose garden, designed by Colvin & Moggridge Landscape Architects, was added in 1994.[46]
Statues and sculptures
Jacob Epstein's Rima sculpture in Hyde Park
The Standing Stone is a 7-tonne (7.7-ton) monolith at the centre of the Dell, to the east of Hyde Park. Made of Cornish stone, it was originally part of a drinking fountain, though an urban legend was established, claiming it was brought from Stonehenge by Charles I.[40]
An assortment of unusual sculptures are scattered around the park, including: Still Water, a massive horse head lapping up water; Jelly Baby Family, a family of giant Jelly Babies standing on top of a large black cube; and Vroom Vroom, which resembles a giant human hand pushing a toy car along the ground.[51] The sculptor Jacob Epstein constructed several works in Hyde Park. His memorial to the author William Henry Hudson, featuring his character Rima caused public outrage when it was unveiled in 1925.[16]
There has been a fountain at Grosvenor Gate since 1863, designed by Alexander Munro. There is another fountain opposite Mount Street on the park's eastern edge.[16]
Debates
A Protestant Christian protesting at Speakers' Corner in 2010
In 1867 the policing of the park was entrusted to the Metropolitan Police, the only royal park so managed, due to the potential for trouble at Speakers' Corner. A Metropolitan Police station ('AH') is situated in the middle of the park. The 1872 Parks Regulation Act created positions of "park keeper" and also provided that "Every police constable belonging to the police force of the district in which any park, garden, or possession to which this Act applies is situate shall have the powers, privileges, and immunities of a park-keeper within such park, garden, or possession."[55]
The Free Hugs Campaign has taken place several times at Speaker's Corner.
As well as Speaker's Corner, several important mass demonstrations have occurred in Hyde Park. On 26 July 1886, the Reform League staged a march from their headquarters towards the park, campaigning for increased suffrage and representation. Though the police had closed the park, the crowd managed to break down the perimeter railings and get inside, leading to the event being dubbed "The Hyde Park Railings Affair". After the protests turned violent, three squadrons of Horse Guards and numerous Foot Guards were sent out from Marble Arch to combat the situation.[56] On 21 June 1908, as part of "Women's Sunday", a reported 750,000 people marched from the Embankment to Hyde Park protesting for universal suffrage. The first protest against the planned 2003 invasion of Iraq took place in Hyde Park on 28 September 2002, with 150,000–350,000 in attendance.[57] A further series of demonstrations happened around the world, culminating in the 15 February 2003, anti-war protests, part of a global demonstration against the Iraq War.[58] Over a million protesters are reported to have attended the Hyde Park event alone.[57]
Concerts
The bandstand in Hyde Park was originally built in Kensington Gardens in 1869, moving to its current location in 1886. It became a popular place for concerts in the 1890s, featuring up to three every week. Military and brass bands continued to play into the 20th century.[59]
Pink Floyd performing at Live 8 in Hyde Park, 2 July 2005, their last of several gigs at the park over their career
Queen played a free concert organised by Richard Branson in the park on 18 September 1976, partway through recording the album A Day at the Races. The band drew an audience of 150,000 – 200,000, which remains the largest crowd for a Hyde Park concert. The group were not allowed to play an encore, and police threatened to arrest frontman Freddie Mercury if he attempted to do so.[61]
The British Live 8 concert took place in Hyde Park on 2 July 2005, as a concert organised by Bob Geldof to raise awareness of increased debts and poverty in the third world. Acts included U2, Coldplay, Elton John, R.E.M., Madonna, The Who and Paul McCartney, and the most anticipated set was the reformation of the classic 1970s line-up of Pink Floyd (including David Gilmour and Roger Waters) for the first time since 1981.[62] The gig was the Floyd's final live performance.[63]
Acts from each of the four nations in the UK played a gig in the park as part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The headliners were Duran Duran, representing England, alongside the Stereophonics for Wales, Paolo Nutini for Scotland and Snow Patrol for Northern Ireland.[64] Since 2011, Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park has taken place each September in the park.[65]
Local residents have become critical of Hyde Park as a concert venue, due to the sound levels, and have campaigned for a maximum sound level of 73 decibels.[66] In June 2012, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney found their microphones switched off after Springsteen had played a three-hour set during the Park's Hard Rock Calling festival, and overshot the 10:30pm curfew time.[67]
Sports
Hyde Park contains several sporting facilities, including several football pitches and a Tennis centre. There are numerous cycle paths, and horse riding is popular.[68]In 1998 British artist Marion Coutts recreated Hyde Park, along with Battersea and Regent's Park, as a set of asymmetrical ping-pong tables for her interactive installation Fresh Air.[69]
For the 2012 Summer Olympics, the park hosted the triathlon, which brothers Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee took the Gold and Bronze medals[70] for Team GB, and the 10 km open water swimming events.[71] The park has also hosted the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.[72]
Transport
Entrance to Hyde Park Corner tube station, with the Grand Entrance to the left
- Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line)
- Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line)
- Queensway (Central line)
- Lancaster Gate (Central line)
- Marble Arch (Central line)
Several main roads run around the perimeter of Hyde Park. Park Lane is part of the London Inner Ring Road and the London Congestion Charge zone boundary. The A4, a major road through West London, runs along the southeastern edge of the park, while the A5, a major road to Milton Keynes and the Midlands runs northwest from Marble Arch.[3]
Transport within the park for people lacking mobility and disabled visitors is provided free of charge by Liberty Drives, located at Triangle Carpark.[74]
1983 - London England - Trafalga Square and the Pigeons
Trafalga Square - London England
TOO MANY PIDGEONS!!! They were like kamakawsi pidgeons. I was glad to take pictures and leave and I was afraid I'd end up with bird doo on my head. The statues are lovely - but the square feels like a bio hazard.
Trafalgar Square (/ˌtrəˈfælɡər/ trə-FAL-gər) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar, Spain.
The site of Trafalgar Square had been a significant landmark since the 13th century and originally contained the King's Mews. After George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, the area was redeveloped by John Nash, but progress was slow after his death, and the square did not open until 1844. The 169-foot (52 m) Nelson's Column at its centre is guarded by four lion statues. A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999.
The square has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday, the first Aldermaston March, anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a centre of annual celebrations on New Year's Eve. It was well known for its feral pigeons until their removal in the early 21st century.
Nelson's Column is in the centre of the square flanked by fountains designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1937 and 1939[5] as replacements for two fountains of Peterhead granite (now in Canada) and guarded by four monumental bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer.[6] At the top of the column is a statue of Horatio Nelson who commanded the British Navy at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Surrounding the square are the National Gallery on the north side and St Martin-in-the-Fields Church to the east.[6] To the south west is The Mall leading towards Buckingham Palace via Admiralty Arch, while Whitehall is to the south and the Strand to the east. Charing Cross Road passes between the National Gallery and the church.[3]
London Underground's Charing Cross tube station on the Northern and Bakerloo lines has an exit in the square. The lines had separate stations, of which the Bakerloo line one was called Trafalgar Square until they were linked and renamed in 1979 as part of the construction of the Jubilee line,[7] which was rerouted to Westminster tube station in 1999.[8] Other nearby tube stations are Embankment connecting the District, Circle, Northern and Bakerloo lines, and Leicester Square on the Northern and Piccadilly lines.[9]
London bus routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453 pass through Trafalgar Square.[10]
Building work on the south side of the square in the late 1950s revealed deposits from the last interglacial. Among the findings were the remains of cave lion, rhinoceros, straight-tusked elephant and hippopotamus.[11][12][13]
The site of Trafalgar Square has been a significant location since the 13th century. During Edward I's reign, the area was the site of the King's Mews, running north from the original Charing Cross, where the Strand from the City met Whitehall coming north from Westminster.[14] From the reign of Richard II to that of Henry VII, the mews was at the western end of the Strand. The name "Royal Mews" comes from the practice of keeping hawks here for moulting; "mew" is an old word for this. After a fire in 1534, the mews were rebuilt as stables, and remained here until George IV moved them to Buckingham Palace.[15]
After the clearance, development progressed slowly. The National
Gallery was built on the north side between 1832 and 1838 to a design by
William Wilkins,[17] and in 1837 the Treasury approved Wilkins' plan for the laying out of the square, but it was not put into effect.[21] In April 1840, following Wilkins' death, new plans by Charles Barry were accepted, and construction started within weeks.[17][22]
For Barry, as for Wilkins, a major consideration was increasing the
visual impact of the National Gallery, which had been widely criticised
for its lack of grandeur. He dealt with the complex sloping site by
excavating the main area to the level of the footway between Cockspur
Street and the Strand,[23]
and constructing a 15-foot (4.6 m) high balustraded terrace with a
roadway on the north side, and steps at each end leading to the main
level.[22] Wilkins had proposed a similar solution with a central flight of steps.[21] Plinths were provided for sculpture and pedestals for lighting. All the stonework was of Aberdeen granite.[22] In 1841 it was decided that two fountains should be included in the layout.[24] The estimated budget, excluding paving and sculptures, was £11,000.[22] The earth removed was used to level Green Park.[23] The square was originally surfaced with tarmacadam, which was replaced with stone in the 1920s.[25]
Trafalgar Square was opened to the public on 1 May 1844.[26]
Nelson's Column
was planned independently of Barry's work. In 1838 a Nelson Memorial
Committee had approached the government proposing that a monument to the
victor of Trafalgar, funded by public subscription, should be erected
in the square. A competition was held and won by the architect William Railton, who proposed a 218 feet 3 inches (66.52 m) Corinthinan
column topped by a statue of Nelson and guarded by four sculpted lions.
The design was approved, but received widespread objections from the
public. Construction went ahead beginning in 1840 but with the height
reduced to 145 feet 3 inches (44.27 m).[27] The column was completed and the statue raised in November 1843.[28]
The last of the bronze reliefs on the column's pedestals was not completed until May 1854, and the four lions, although part of the original design, were only added in 1867.[29] Each lion weighs seven tons.[30] A hoarding remained around the base of Nelson's Column for some years and some of its upper scaffolding remained in place.[31] Landseer, the sculptor, had asked for a lion that had died at the London Zoo to be brought to his studio. He took so long to complete sketches that its corpse began to decompose and some parts had to be improvised. The statues have paws that resemble cats more than lions.[32]
Barry was unhappy about Nelson's Column being placed in the square. In July 1840, when its foundations had been laid, he told a parliamentary select committee that "it would in my opinion be desirable that the area should be wholly free from all insulated objects of art".[22]
In 1940 the Nazi SS developed secret plans to transfer Nelson's Column to Berlin[b] after an expected German invasion, as related by Norman Longmate in If Britain Had Fallen (1972).[33]
The square has been Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens since 1996.[34]
Barry's scheme provided two plinths for sculptures on the north side of the square.[37] A bronze equestrian statue of George IV by Sir Francis Chantrey, originally intended to be placed on top of the Marble Arch,[17] was installed on the eastern plinth in 1844, while the other remained empty until the late-20th century.[37] There are two other statues on plinths, both installed during the 19th century: General Sir Charles James Napier by George Cannon Adams in the south-west corner in 1855, and Major-General Sir Henry Havelock by William Behnes in the south-east in 1861.[17] In 2000, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, suggested replacing the statues with figures more familiar to the general public.[38]
A new sculpture, The Gift Horse designed by Hans Haacke was installed on the fourth plinth on 5 March 2015. It is a model of a horse's skeleton with a live display of the London Stock Exchange.[40]
On the south side on the site of the original Charing Cross, is a bronze equestrian statue of Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur. It was cast in 1633, and placed in its present position in 1678.[44]
The two statues on the lawn in front of the National Gallery are the statue of James II by Grinling Gibbons to the west of the portico, and of one George Washington, a replica of a work by Jean-Antoine Houdon, to the east[36] that was a gift from the Commonwealth of Virginia installed in 1921.[45]
Two statues erected in the 19th century have since been removed. One of Edward Jenner, pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, was set up in the south-west corner of the square in 1858, next to that of Napier. Sculpted by William Calder Marshall, it showed Jenner sitting in a chair in a relaxed pose, and was inaugurated at a ceremony presided over by Prince Albert. It was moved to Kensington Gardens in 1862.[46][47] The other, of General Charles George Gordon by Hamo Thornycroft, was erected on an 18-foot high pedestal between the fountains in 1888. It was removed in 1943 and re-sited on the Victoria Embankment ten years later.[48]
In 1841, following suggestions from the local paving board, Barry
agreed that two fountains should be installed to counteract the effects
of reflected heat and glare from the asphalt surface. The First
Commissioner of Woods and Forests welcomed the plan because the
fountains reduced the open space available for public gatherings and
reduced the risk of riotous assembly.[49]
The fountains were fed from two wells, one in front of the National
Gallery and one behind it connected by a tunnel. Water was pumped to the
fountains by a steam engine housed in a building behind the gallery.[17]
In the late-1930s it was decided to replace the pump and the centrepieces of the fountains. The new centrepieces, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, were memorials to Lord Jellicoe and Lord Beatty, although busts of the admirals, initially intended to be placed in the fountain surrounds were placed against the northern retaining wall when the project was completed after the Second World War.[50] The fountains cost almost £50,000. The old ones were presented to the Canadian government and are now located in Ottawa's Confederation Park and Regina's Wascana Centre.[51][52]
A programme of restoration was completed by May 2009. The pump system was replaced with one capable of sending an 80-foot (24 m) jet of water into the air.[53] A LED lighting system that can project different combinations of colours on to the fountains was installed to reduce the cost of lighting maintenance and to coincide with the 2012 Summer Olympics.[51]
The square was once famous for feral pigeons
and feeding them was a popular activity. Pigeons began flocking to the
square before construction was completed and feed sellers became well
known in the Victorian era.[54]
The desirability of the birds' presence was contentious: their
droppings disfigured the stonework and the flock, estimated at its peak
to be 35,000, was considered a health hazard.[55][56] A stall seller, Bernie Rayner, infamously sold bird seed to tourists at inflated prices.[57]
In February 2001, the sale of bird seed in the square was stopped[55] and other measures were introduced to discourage the pigeons including the use of birds of prey.[58] Supporters continued to feed the birds but in 2003 the mayor, Ken Livingstone, enacted bylaws to ban feeding them in the square.[59] In September 2007 Westminster City Council passed further bylaws banning feeding birds on the pedestrianised North Terrace and other pavements in the area.[60] Nelson's column was repaired from years of damage from pigeon droppings at a cost of £140,000.[57]
A Christmas ceremony has been held in the square every year since 1947.[62] A Norway spruce (or sometimes a fir) is presented by Norway's capital city, Oslo as London's Christmas tree, a token of gratitude for Britain's support during World War II.[62] (Besides war-time support, Norway's Prince Olav and the country's government lived in exile in London throughout the war.[62])
The Christmas tree is decorated with lights that are switched on at a seasonal ceremony.[63] It is usually held twelve days before Christmas Day. The festivity is open to the public and attracts a large number of people.[64] The switch-on is usually followed by several nights of Christmas carol singing and other performances and events.[65] On the twelfth night of Christmas, the tree is taken down for recycling. Westminster City Council threatened to abandon the event to save £5,000 in 1980 but the decision was reversed.[62]
The tree is selected by the Head Forester from Oslo's municipal forest and shipped, across the North Sea to the Port of Felixstowe, then by road to Trafalgar Square. The first tree was 48 feet (15 m) tall, but more recently has been around 75 feet (23 m). In 1987, protesters chained themselves to the tree.[62] In 1990, a man sawed into the tree with a chainsaw a few hours before a New Year's Eve party was scheduled to take place. He was arrested and the tree was repaired by tree surgeons who removed gouged sections from the trunk while the tree was suspended from a crane.[66]
The square has become a social and political focus for visitors and Londoners, developing over its history from "an esplanade peopled with figures of national heroes, into the country's foremost place politique", as historian Rodney Mace has written. Since its construction, it has been a venue for political demonstrations.[36] The great Chartist rally in 1848, a campaign for social reform by the working class began in the square.[36] A ban on political rallies remained in effect until the 1880s, when the emerging Labour movement, particularly the Social Democratic Federation, began holding protests. On 8 February 1886 (also known as "Black Monday"), protesters rallied against unemployment leading to a riot in Pall Mall. A larger riot ("Bloody Sunday") occurred in the square on 13 November 1887.[67]
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's first Aldermaston March, protesting against the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), began in the square in 1958.[36] One of the first significant demonstrations of the modern era was held in the square on 19 September 1961 by the Committee of 100, which included the philosopher Bertrand Russell. The protesters rallied for peace and against war and nuclear weapons. In March 1968, a crowd of 10,000 demonstrated against US involvement in the Vietnam War before marching to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square.[68]
Throughout the 1980s, a continuous anti-apartheid protest was held outside South Africa House. In 1990, the Poll Tax Riots began by a demonstration attended by 200,000 people and ultimately caused rioting in the surrounding area.[36] More recently, there have been anti-war demonstrations opposing the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War.[69] A large vigil was held shortly after the terrorist bombings in London on Thursday, 7 July 2005.[70]
In December 2009, participants from the Camp for Climate Action occupied the square for the two weeks during which the UN Conference on Climate Change took place in Copenhagen.[71] It was billed as a UK base for direct action on climate change and saw various actions and protests stem from the occupation.[72][73][74]
In March 2011, the square was occupied by a crowd protesting against the UK Budget and proposed budget cuts. During the night the situation turned violent as the escalation by riot police and protesters damaged portions of the square.[75] In November 2015 a vigil against the terrorist attacks in Paris was held. Crowds sang the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, and held banners in support of the city and country.[76]
Every year on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October), the Sea Cadet Corps holds a parade in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson and the British victory over the combined fleets of Spain and France at Trafalgar.[77] The Royal British Legion holds a Silence in the Square event on Armistice Day, 11 November, in remembrance of those who died in war. The event includes music and poetry readings, culminating in a bugler playing the Last Post and a two-minute silence at 11 am.[78]
On 6 July 2005 Trafalgar Square hosted the announcement of London's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.[82] A countdown clock was erected in March 2011, although engineering and weather-related faults caused it to stop a day later.[83] In 2007, it hosted the opening ceremonies of the Tour de France[84] and was part of the course for subsequent races.[85]
The Sea Cadets hold an annual celebration of the Battle of Trafalgar victory along the square. The parade runs from Horse Guard's Parade, along Whitehall to Nelson's Column.[86]
As an archetypal London location, Trafalgar Square featured in film and television productions during the Swinging London era of the late 1960s, including The Avengers,[87] Casino Royale,[88] Doctor Who,[89] and The Ipcress File.[90] It was used for filming several sketches and a cartoon backdrop in the BBC comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus.[91] In May 2007, the square was grassed over with 2,000 square metres of turf for two days in a campaign by London authorities to promote "green spaces" in the city.[92]
In July 2011, due to building works in Leicester Square, the world premiere of the final film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was held in Trafalgar Square, with a 0.75-mile (1.21 km) red carpet linking the squares. Fans camped in Trafalgar Square for up to three days before the premiere, despite torrential rain. It was the first premiere ever to be held there.[93]
TOO MANY PIDGEONS!!! They were like kamakawsi pidgeons. I was glad to take pictures and leave and I was afraid I'd end up with bird doo on my head. The statues are lovely - but the square feels like a bio hazard.
I remembered people allowing their children to climb on the lions (4 guard the square). I thought it was rude and thought it was illegal. It wasnt. Its a thing people do. Not me though. 1st the bio-hazard and secondly, if a child fell (it was over a grown persons head), they could be hurt on the concrete. I can't wait to go back.
Trafalgar Square
View of the square in 2009
|
|
|
Location within Central London
|
|
| Former name(s) | Charing Cross |
|---|---|
| Namesake | Battle of Trafalgar |
| Maintained by | Greater London Authority |
| Location | City of Westminster, London, England |
| Postal code | WC2 |
| Coordinates | 51.508056°N 0.128056°WCoordinates: 51.508056°N 0.128056°W |
| North | Charing Cross Road |
| East | The Strand |
| South | Northumberland Avenue Whitehall |
| West | The Mall |
| Construction | |
| Completion | c. 1840 |
| Other | |
| Designer | Sir Charles Barry |
| Website | www |
The site of Trafalgar Square had been a significant landmark since the 13th century and originally contained the King's Mews. After George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, the area was redeveloped by John Nash, but progress was slow after his death, and the square did not open until 1844. The 169-foot (52 m) Nelson's Column at its centre is guarded by four lion statues. A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999.
The square has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday, the first Aldermaston March, anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a centre of annual celebrations on New Year's Eve. It was well known for its feral pigeons until their removal in the early 21st century.
Geography
Trafalgar Square is owned by the Queen in Right of the Crown[a] and managed by the Greater London Authority, while Westminster City Council owns the roads around the square, including the pedestrianised area of the North Terrace.[2] The square contains a large central area with roadways on three sides and a terrace to the north, in front of the National Gallery. The roads around the square form part of the A4, a major road running west of the City of London.[3] The square was formerly surrounded by a one-way traffic system, but works completed in 2003 reduced the width of the roads and closed the northern side to traffic.[4]Nelson's Column is in the centre of the square flanked by fountains designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1937 and 1939[5] as replacements for two fountains of Peterhead granite (now in Canada) and guarded by four monumental bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer.[6] At the top of the column is a statue of Horatio Nelson who commanded the British Navy at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Surrounding the square are the National Gallery on the north side and St Martin-in-the-Fields Church to the east.[6] To the south west is The Mall leading towards Buckingham Palace via Admiralty Arch, while Whitehall is to the south and the Strand to the east. Charing Cross Road passes between the National Gallery and the church.[3]
London Underground's Charing Cross tube station on the Northern and Bakerloo lines has an exit in the square. The lines had separate stations, of which the Bakerloo line one was called Trafalgar Square until they were linked and renamed in 1979 as part of the construction of the Jubilee line,[7] which was rerouted to Westminster tube station in 1999.[8] Other nearby tube stations are Embankment connecting the District, Circle, Northern and Bakerloo lines, and Leicester Square on the Northern and Piccadilly lines.[9]
London bus routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453 pass through Trafalgar Square.[10]
History
A painting by James Pollard showing the square before the erection of Nelson's Column
The site of Trafalgar Square has been a significant location since the 13th century. During Edward I's reign, the area was the site of the King's Mews, running north from the original Charing Cross, where the Strand from the City met Whitehall coming north from Westminster.[14] From the reign of Richard II to that of Henry VII, the mews was at the western end of the Strand. The name "Royal Mews" comes from the practice of keeping hawks here for moulting; "mew" is an old word for this. After a fire in 1534, the mews were rebuilt as stables, and remained here until George IV moved them to Buckingham Palace.[15]
Clearance and development
After 1732, the King's Mews were divided into the Great Mews and the smaller Green Mews to the north by the Crown Stables, a large block, built to the designs of William Kent. Its site is occupied by the National Gallery.[16] In 1826 the Commissioners of H.M. Woods, Forests and Land Revenues instructed John Nash to draw up plans for clearing a large area south of Kent's stable block, and as far east as St Martin's Lane. His plans left open the whole area of what became Trafalgar Square, except for a block in the centre, which he reserved for a new building for the Royal Academy.[17] The plans included the demolition and redevelopment of buildings between St Martin's Lane and the Strand and the construction of a road (now called Duncannon Street) across the churchyard of St Martin-in-the-Fields.[18] The Charing Cross Act was passed in 1826 and clearance started soon after.[17] Nash died soon after construction started, impeding its progress. The square was to be named for William IV commemorating his ascent to the throne in 1830.[19] Around 1835, it was decided that the square would be named after the Battle of Trafalgar as suggested by architect George Ledwell Taylor, commemorating Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish in 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars.[14][20]
Ten frames of Trafalgar Square shot by Wordsworth Donisthorpe in 1890
Trafalgar Square was opened to the public on 1 May 1844.[26]
Nelson's Column
The lions at Nelson's Column were not finished until nearly 30 years after the square opened.
The last of the bronze reliefs on the column's pedestals was not completed until May 1854, and the four lions, although part of the original design, were only added in 1867.[29] Each lion weighs seven tons.[30] A hoarding remained around the base of Nelson's Column for some years and some of its upper scaffolding remained in place.[31] Landseer, the sculptor, had asked for a lion that had died at the London Zoo to be brought to his studio. He took so long to complete sketches that its corpse began to decompose and some parts had to be improvised. The statues have paws that resemble cats more than lions.[32]
Barry was unhappy about Nelson's Column being placed in the square. In July 1840, when its foundations had been laid, he told a parliamentary select committee that "it would in my opinion be desirable that the area should be wholly free from all insulated objects of art".[22]
In 1940 the Nazi SS developed secret plans to transfer Nelson's Column to Berlin[b] after an expected German invasion, as related by Norman Longmate in If Britain Had Fallen (1972).[33]
The square has been Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens since 1996.[34]
Redevelopment
A major 18-month redevelopment of the square led by W.S. Atkins with Foster and Partners as sub-consultants was completed in 2003. The work involved closing the eastbound road along the north side and diverting traffic around the other three sides of the square, demolishing the central section of the northern retaining wall and inserting a wide set of steps to the pedestrianised terrace in front of the National Gallery. The construction includes two lifts for disabled access, public toilets and a café. Access between the square and the gallery had been by two crossings at the northeast and northwest corners.[35][36]Statues and monuments
Plinths
.jpg)
Fourth plinth
In the 21st century, the empty plinth in the north-west corner of the square, the "Fourth Plinth", has been used to show specially commissioned artworks. The scheme was initiated by the Royal Society of Arts and continued by the Fourth Plinth Commission, appointed by the Mayor of London.[39]A new sculpture, The Gift Horse designed by Hans Haacke was installed on the fourth plinth on 5 March 2015. It is a model of a horse's skeleton with a live display of the London Stock Exchange.[40]
Other sculptures
There are three busts of admirals against the north wall of the square. Those of Lord Jellicoe by Sir Charles Wheeler and Lord Beatty, by William MacMillan were installed in 1948 in conjunction with the square's fountains, which also commemorate them.[41][42] The third, of the Second World War First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham by Franta Belsky was unveiled alongside them on 2 April 1967.[43]On the south side on the site of the original Charing Cross, is a bronze equestrian statue of Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur. It was cast in 1633, and placed in its present position in 1678.[44]
The two statues on the lawn in front of the National Gallery are the statue of James II by Grinling Gibbons to the west of the portico, and of one George Washington, a replica of a work by Jean-Antoine Houdon, to the east[36] that was a gift from the Commonwealth of Virginia installed in 1921.[45]
Two statues erected in the 19th century have since been removed. One of Edward Jenner, pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, was set up in the south-west corner of the square in 1858, next to that of Napier. Sculpted by William Calder Marshall, it showed Jenner sitting in a chair in a relaxed pose, and was inaugurated at a ceremony presided over by Prince Albert. It was moved to Kensington Gardens in 1862.[46][47] The other, of General Charles George Gordon by Hamo Thornycroft, was erected on an 18-foot high pedestal between the fountains in 1888. It was removed in 1943 and re-sited on the Victoria Embankment ten years later.[48]
Fountains
Fountain at Trafalgar Square, 2014
In the late-1930s it was decided to replace the pump and the centrepieces of the fountains. The new centrepieces, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, were memorials to Lord Jellicoe and Lord Beatty, although busts of the admirals, initially intended to be placed in the fountain surrounds were placed against the northern retaining wall when the project was completed after the Second World War.[50] The fountains cost almost £50,000. The old ones were presented to the Canadian government and are now located in Ottawa's Confederation Park and Regina's Wascana Centre.[51][52]
A programme of restoration was completed by May 2009. The pump system was replaced with one capable of sending an 80-foot (24 m) jet of water into the air.[53] A LED lighting system that can project different combinations of colours on to the fountains was installed to reduce the cost of lighting maintenance and to coincide with the 2012 Summer Olympics.[51]
Pigeons
People sitting on lions and feeding pigeons in the square
In February 2001, the sale of bird seed in the square was stopped[55] and other measures were introduced to discourage the pigeons including the use of birds of prey.[58] Supporters continued to feed the birds but in 2003 the mayor, Ken Livingstone, enacted bylaws to ban feeding them in the square.[59] In September 2007 Westminster City Council passed further bylaws banning feeding birds on the pedestrianised North Terrace and other pavements in the area.[60] Nelson's column was repaired from years of damage from pigeon droppings at a cost of £140,000.[57]
Events
New Year
For many years, revellers celebrating the New Year have gathered in the square despite a lack of celebrations being arranged. The lack of official events was partly because the authorities were concerned that encouraging more partygoers would cause overcrowding. Since 2003, a firework display centred on the London Eye and South Bank of the Thames has been provided as an alternative. Since 2014, New Year celebrations have been organised by the Greater London Authority in conjunction with the charity Unicef, who began ticketing the event to control crowd numbers.[61]Christmas
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree in 2008
The Christmas tree is decorated with lights that are switched on at a seasonal ceremony.[63] It is usually held twelve days before Christmas Day. The festivity is open to the public and attracts a large number of people.[64] The switch-on is usually followed by several nights of Christmas carol singing and other performances and events.[65] On the twelfth night of Christmas, the tree is taken down for recycling. Westminster City Council threatened to abandon the event to save £5,000 in 1980 but the decision was reversed.[62]
The tree is selected by the Head Forester from Oslo's municipal forest and shipped, across the North Sea to the Port of Felixstowe, then by road to Trafalgar Square. The first tree was 48 feet (15 m) tall, but more recently has been around 75 feet (23 m). In 1987, protesters chained themselves to the tree.[62] In 1990, a man sawed into the tree with a chainsaw a few hours before a New Year's Eve party was scheduled to take place. He was arrested and the tree was repaired by tree surgeons who removed gouged sections from the trunk while the tree was suspended from a crane.[66]
Political demonstrations
A demonstration in Trafalgar Square
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's first Aldermaston March, protesting against the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), began in the square in 1958.[36] One of the first significant demonstrations of the modern era was held in the square on 19 September 1961 by the Committee of 100, which included the philosopher Bertrand Russell. The protesters rallied for peace and against war and nuclear weapons. In March 1968, a crowd of 10,000 demonstrated against US involvement in the Vietnam War before marching to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square.[68]
Protesting against harassment of photographers under anti-terrorism law, 23 January 2010
In December 2009, participants from the Camp for Climate Action occupied the square for the two weeks during which the UN Conference on Climate Change took place in Copenhagen.[71] It was billed as a UK base for direct action on climate change and saw various actions and protests stem from the occupation.[72][73][74]
In March 2011, the square was occupied by a crowd protesting against the UK Budget and proposed budget cuts. During the night the situation turned violent as the escalation by riot police and protesters damaged portions of the square.[75] In November 2015 a vigil against the terrorist attacks in Paris was held. Crowds sang the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, and held banners in support of the city and country.[76]
Every year on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October), the Sea Cadet Corps holds a parade in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson and the British victory over the combined fleets of Spain and France at Trafalgar.[77] The Royal British Legion holds a Silence in the Square event on Armistice Day, 11 November, in remembrance of those who died in war. The event includes music and poetry readings, culminating in a bugler playing the Last Post and a two-minute silence at 11 am.[78]
Sport
In the 21st century, Trafalgar Square has been the location for several sporting events and victory parades. In June 2002, 12,000 people gathered to watch the England national football team's World Cup quarter-final against Brazil on giant video screens which had been erected for the occasion.[79] The square was used by the England national rugby union team on 9 December 2003 to celebrate their victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup,[80] and on 13 September 2005 for the England national cricket team's victory in the Ashes series.[81]On 6 July 2005 Trafalgar Square hosted the announcement of London's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.[82] A countdown clock was erected in March 2011, although engineering and weather-related faults caused it to stop a day later.[83] In 2007, it hosted the opening ceremonies of the Tour de France[84] and was part of the course for subsequent races.[85]
Other uses
Trafalgar Square temporarily grassed over in May 2007
As an archetypal London location, Trafalgar Square featured in film and television productions during the Swinging London era of the late 1960s, including The Avengers,[87] Casino Royale,[88] Doctor Who,[89] and The Ipcress File.[90] It was used for filming several sketches and a cartoon backdrop in the BBC comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus.[91] In May 2007, the square was grassed over with 2,000 square metres of turf for two days in a campaign by London authorities to promote "green spaces" in the city.[92]
In July 2011, due to building works in Leicester Square, the world premiere of the final film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was held in Trafalgar Square, with a 0.75-mile (1.21 km) red carpet linking the squares. Fans camped in Trafalgar Square for up to three days before the premiere, despite torrential rain. It was the first premiere ever to be held there.[93]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)