Richmond Park - History

History

In 1625 Charles I brought his court to Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London and turned the area on the hill above Richmond into a park for the hunting of red and fallow deer.It was originally referred to as the king's "New Park"to distinguish it from the existing park in Richmond, which is now known as Old Deer Park. Charles's decision, in 1637, to enclose the landwas not popular with the local residents, but he did allow pedestrians the right of way. To this day the walls remain, although they have been partially rebuilt and reinforced.

Following Charles I's execution, custodianship of the park passed to the Corporation of the City of London but it was returned to the restored monarch, Charles II, on his return to London in 1660.

In 1736 the Queen's Ride was cut through existing woodland to create a grand avenue through the park.

In 1751, Princess Amelia became ranger of Richmond Park after the death of Robert Walpole. Immediately afterwards, the Princess caused major public uproar by closing the park to the public, only allowing few close friends and those with special permits to enter. This continued until 1758, when a local brewer, John Lewis, took the gatekeeper, who stopped him from entering the park, to court. The court ruled in favour of Lewis, citing the fact that, when Charles I enclosed the park in the 17th century, he allowed the public right of way in the park. Princess Amelia was forced to lift the restrictions.

Full right of public access to the park was confirmed by Act of Parliament in 1872. However, people were no longer given the right to remove firewood; this is still the case and helps in preserving the park.

Pen Ponds, a lake divided in two by a causeway, was dug in 1746 and is now a good place to see water birds. A map, published in 1745 by John Rocque in his Survey of London and 10 miles around, shows Pen Ponds for the first time, named as The Canals. Between 1855 and 1861, new drainage improvements were constructed, including drinking points for deer.

Between 1833 and 1842 the Petersham Lodge estate, and then Sudbrook Park, were incorporated into Richmond Park. Terrace Walk was created from Richmond Gate to Pembroke Lodge.

Edward VII developed the park as a public amenity by opening up almost all the previously fenced woods and making public those gates that were previously private. From 1915 level areas of the park were marked out for football and cricket pitches. A golf course was developed on the former "Great Paddock" of Richmond Park, an area used for feeding deer for the royal hunt. The tree belt in this part of the park was supplemented by additional planting in 1936. The golf course was opened in 1923 by Edward, Prince of Wales (who was to become King Edward VIII and, after his abdication, Duke of Windsor). The future king had been born in the park, at White Lodge, in 1894.