A Brief History of St James's Park

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center"></div><div align="center">St James's Park is<br />the oldest Royal Park in London, </div><div align="center">the first Royal Park to be open to the public, </div><div align="center">and it is one of the most visited parks in Europe today </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">The park is surrounded by three palaces </div><div align="center">- St. James's, Westminster, and Buckingham - </div><div align="center">and often has beautifully landscaped borders<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2_CuuEB315P40ndbBCF3dZcwpUeUzE55OYFba8TD4AFih8_KJ_hOsxCHbYMKJqzsu6gy0lMEhK6ZWasolRZmEoMp_sF8f6ZnO2P2mJvgLACSzflvu5LbM_G66KphT1STLvw4HmvBOmPV/s1600/DSC05047-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2_CuuEB315P40ndbBCF3dZcwpUeUzE55OYFba8TD4AFih8_KJ_hOsxCHbYMKJqzsu6gy0lMEhK6ZWasolRZmEoMp_sF8f6ZnO2P2mJvgLACSzflvu5LbM_G66KphT1STLvw4HmvBOmPV/s640/DSC05047-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Originally the park was a marshy meadow </div><div align="center">where the River Tyburn often flooded on its way to the River Thames</div><div align="center">Pigs grazed the land with farms and woodland in the area </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">In the thirteenth century, a leper hospital for women opened <br />(and gave the park its namesake)</div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">Like the conversion of Hyde Park, </div><div align="center">King Henry VIII turned the land into another deer park in 1536 </div><div align="center">with a hunting lodge that later became St. James's Palace </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">Later, King James I brought minor changes to the park</div><div align="center">including keeping exotic birds, camels, crocodiles, and an elephant in the park </div><div align="center">  </div><div align="center">King Charles II acquired Green Park so he could walk<br />from Hyde Park to St James’s Park without leaving royal soil</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMoMwJVXfaSzuQBJNIFK_fZkc46K6iCKtZOYlw_nWZPz_VUkj_zepChMqN025JKOKFcrPNykuTs-i1lFsK9iDBII-hFnuWv3b5J9uJuVlYpgQxTWmfKBFJMkbONpa9gllvhgo4m2RjhPS/s1600/DSC05042-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMoMwJVXfaSzuQBJNIFK_fZkc46K6iCKtZOYlw_nWZPz_VUkj_zepChMqN025JKOKFcrPNykuTs-i1lFsK9iDBII-hFnuWv3b5J9uJuVlYpgQxTWmfKBFJMkbONpa9gllvhgo4m2RjhPS/s640/DSC05042-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Then in 1827 the Prince Regent (later George IV) commissioned<br />John Nash to design the park in a naturalistic fashion which included<br />winding paths, converting the canal into a lake,</div><div align="center">and replacing Charles II's formal, French-inspired plantings to something more fashionable </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">The landscape design has changed little since Nash’s time</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Earlier trees were burned for fuel or<br />accidentally burned due to out-of-control fireworks,<br /><br />therefore, many of the plane trees (in the Sycamore family)<br />you see today in the park were planted during the 1827 redesign</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">In 1837, the Ornithological Society of London gifted the park various birds</div><div align="center">The position of bird keeper and cottage (below) remain today<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgmWwTlol2tu_m7g-NqHFHFoogFqFceQKDfZkA703B-0zqRDRObJansxexEFPIBNevNy6ozix9ZzsUtF_M_ZV1frvxcrzWNEHQ-J9Nd-1tO-MZEzk3uA7m0kuivWX65NgALKvxbwuDw3Q/s1600/DSC05089-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgmWwTlol2tu_m7g-NqHFHFoogFqFceQKDfZkA703B-0zqRDRObJansxexEFPIBNevNy6ozix9ZzsUtF_M_ZV1frvxcrzWNEHQ-J9Nd-1tO-MZEzk3uA7m0kuivWX65NgALKvxbwuDw3Q/s640/DSC05089-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">And those fabulous pelicans?<br /><br /></div><div align="center">In 1664, the Russian Ambassador gave pelicans as a gift for the park<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Just last month the City of Prague gave the park three Great White pelicans,<br />increasing the pelican population to six<br /><br /></div><div align="center">They can be seen feeding between 2:30p and 3:00p daily<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXYyfleTPhwxgey-nPkH0dDhXz0hdYKeT_PT1kvTi2Wr8YonW54mko4Om-tCcKGdo_1CNbaXm-8Hmn0V-uqj4PsHseCCUQZl6WTj-2r_cPusX_YZkrVh4LAmbenEP4hVj6-YfC7b7hJgN/s1600/DSC05091-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXYyfleTPhwxgey-nPkH0dDhXz0hdYKeT_PT1kvTi2Wr8YonW54mko4Om-tCcKGdo_1CNbaXm-8Hmn0V-uqj4PsHseCCUQZl6WTj-2r_cPusX_YZkrVh4LAmbenEP4hVj6-YfC7b7hJgN/s640/DSC05091-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div align="center">It's reported that there once was a naughty pelican<br />who would fly to the London Zoo to steal fish for lunch<br />and then return to the park<br /><br /></div><div align="center">This one looks a little suspicious<br />:)<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">all photos by me</span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.royalparks.org.uk/">The Royal Parks</a></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Brief History of St James's Park

St James's Park is the oldest Royal Park in London, the first Royal Park to be open to the public, and it is one of the most visited par...

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Day Out With The Girls

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">A friend and I had</div><div style="text-align: center;">the perfect day with our daughters</div><div style="text-align: center;">last week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not a fan of musicals,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but <a href="http://uk.matildathemusical.com/">Matilda</a> is the best one I've seen EVER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxS15Q4kcpcP2DJ_aYWQZpxX2pFdUeDA2a9mf0hu0I1fmAN8OyTfYqIk93JOi2m19qceH4UrxeAYZmOQPkvfSlskeGxqbpZORMRDepcCnJZWkgR0mQT_FVJz65nSILZ7qtizSXohOQqiJ/s1600/photo+1+(15)-0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxS15Q4kcpcP2DJ_aYWQZpxX2pFdUeDA2a9mf0hu0I1fmAN8OyTfYqIk93JOi2m19qceH4UrxeAYZmOQPkvfSlskeGxqbpZORMRDepcCnJZWkgR0mQT_FVJz65nSILZ7qtizSXohOQqiJ/s400/photo+1+(15)-0021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Based on a Roald Dahl story,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this musical oozes talent and creativity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">About a girl who is mistreated by her parents and headmistress,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this dark story has a happy ending </div><div style="text-align: center;">with snappy tunes, amazing sets, and delightful choreography along the way</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started our day off right at Sanderson Hotel</div><div style="text-align: center;">with their <a href="http://www.sandersonlondon.com/en-us/#/explore/?id=/sanderson-london-mad-hatters-tea/">Mad Hatter's Tea</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5bxI8nuVvb_k8qBav88ldntDJT-w1MGIIbsQAHXLGkCQIsDo28XyjNrFjljUtHg1cu9JtJwC3AqeeIuXd972NjwJmmNl0m1aaDslEmwnlVKa1yFOjmBHHeWcnIhwaLoryou_eNHsWT0o/s1600/TeaCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5bxI8nuVvb_k8qBav88ldntDJT-w1MGIIbsQAHXLGkCQIsDo28XyjNrFjljUtHg1cu9JtJwC3AqeeIuXd972NjwJmmNl0m1aaDslEmwnlVKa1yFOjmBHHeWcnIhwaLoryou_eNHsWT0o/s400/TeaCollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Complete with marshmallow mushrooms, 'Drink Me' juice, and other fun (and delicious) bites,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my daughter had a hard time deciding if she liked the musical or the afternoon tea best</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd say it was a tie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a great day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laura Porter's review of Mad Hatter's Tea <a href="http://golondon.about.com/od/afternoontea/fr/Mad-Hatters-Afternoon-Tea.htm">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Day Out With The Girls

A friend and I had the perfect day with our daughters last week I'm not a fan of musicals, but Matilda is the best one I've seen EV...

Read more »

Spring Daffodil Days

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This has been a tough gloomy winter</div><div style="text-align: center;">but we are now being rewarded</div><div style="text-align: center;">with 'sunshine on a stick'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Daffodils...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWHT2STGtrnARu7RrCLsU2uvxA_-uGnm4vxrvwpaLpR5DM0K9ao9o3s6m4YiWT-3orXD3vR547Oiaj9J-dDTtE3xtijSlHdh4atEPsYI3-boKj2dL9U6Pim12E3ES4ZWgGR3zhFUEYROb/s1600/DSC05152-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWHT2STGtrnARu7RrCLsU2uvxA_-uGnm4vxrvwpaLpR5DM0K9ao9o3s6m4YiWT-3orXD3vR547Oiaj9J-dDTtE3xtijSlHdh4atEPsYI3-boKj2dL9U6Pim12E3ES4ZWgGR3zhFUEYROb/s640/DSC05152-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UVUuqK9_ETxvnwj7KisOwlMAAMmOsb_Awi7IP0YZ-iPttij8bPLoRqsbEqed6JOf3qdkSqjnF361SU3J4HLNkwlXG1t5UnNreLfrncJqfqqlPInB21toku15WjEOwj0hmaf09I-0LYlK/s1600/DSC05206-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UVUuqK9_ETxvnwj7KisOwlMAAMmOsb_Awi7IP0YZ-iPttij8bPLoRqsbEqed6JOf3qdkSqjnF361SU3J4HLNkwlXG1t5UnNreLfrncJqfqqlPInB21toku15WjEOwj0hmaf09I-0LYlK/s640/DSC05206-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzL83JtkP0u8Kghq3GjQXFRo_nSTMaYOoUEaer6E5YBGotM2bwIhtQbIPqU9yJk6DnQdF3i1Eq6AihS47kKC9H-wN7KgY4_UcBI7gpHj6dmiYIBNsqvIPj1n2FcfosQtno1G3ikNxj1nD/s1600/DSC05190-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzL83JtkP0u8Kghq3GjQXFRo_nSTMaYOoUEaer6E5YBGotM2bwIhtQbIPqU9yJk6DnQdF3i1Eq6AihS47kKC9H-wN7KgY4_UcBI7gpHj6dmiYIBNsqvIPj1n2FcfosQtno1G3ikNxj1nD/s640/DSC05190-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a wonderful weekend!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Spring Daffodil Days

This has been a tough gloomy winter but we are now being rewarded with 'sunshine on a stick' Daffodils... Wishing you a wonderful we...

Read more »