An early 19th century plan for houses in Hyde Park

FORDYCE, John.

Design for an Improvement on the Crown's Estate in Hyde Park; by erecting Nine Capital Houses, with Stable Offices next Park Lane; and enclosing Ornamemtal Gards thereto from the Park.
London: Luke Hansard for the House of Commons, 1809. Original colour. 340 x 410mm.

A plan for an estate on the east side of Hyde Park, containing one large detatched mansion and eight semi-detached town houses, and a New Lodge guarding an entrance to the park. The development would cover the area facing Park Lane between Upper Brook Street and South Street. The map also marks the Chelsea Waterworks Company reservoir that is now the 'Joy of Life Fountain'.
Plans such as these were drawn up by the government to maximise revenue from the Crown Estate at a time when the Napoleonic Wars were an expensive drain on the coffers.


Stock ID : 21686