The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-18 00:00:00

The Parks of London.

The minor parks, although as yet less known to
the general public, are, if possible, more appreciated
in their respective neighbourhoods than their senior
rivals. Battersea and Kennington-parks, as well as
the new grounds at Chelsea Hospital, are all under
the management of Mr. Gibson, who had been pre-
viously for some years at Victoria-park, and before
that at Chatsworth. The site of Battersea-park con-
sisted, prior to its formation, of small freeholds and
" Lammas" land. In lieu of the latter, a Lammas-
hall has been erected in Battersea ; this serves as
parochial offices, and also affords accommodation for
concerts, scientific lectures, &c. The situation was
very flat, and was occasionally overflowed by the
Thames at spring tides. It was, therefore, necessarily
intersected by open drains, such as are seen on the
Fens, but which here served as sewers likewise. Dur-
ing the summer months the place used to be the habitual
resort of gipsies. Gambling of every sort bade de-
fiance to the authorities, and, gradually increasing,
became at last a public disgrace. The idea, there-
fore, of converting a hotbed of vice into a handsome
park was well conceived. The unfavourable nature
of the ground for the object proposed caused great
opposition to be made to it, but eventually an Act of
Parliament was passed and steps at once taken for
its formation into a park in 1846. Before it was fit
even to walk upon it was necessary to raise the
entire surface. Fortunately, about this time the
London Docks( Victoria) Extension was commenced.
It was necessary to excavate and remove thence to
a distance immense quantities of earth, which were
gladly received at Battersea-fields ; and from this
and other sources not less than 1,000,000 cubic yards
of earth have been deposited on this site. This, of
course, occupied several years, and the actual for-
mation of the park could not be commenced till
1856 ; the drives, walks, and ornamental lake were
then laid out and formed ; the planting began in
1857, and was nearly completed in the following
year. Up to this time the works were executed
under Mr. Pennethorne, architect of the Office of
Works, when the present superintendent was ap-
pointed to take charge of and complete the un-
finished works. Since then large quantities of earth
have been deposited and formed into undulating
mounds and banks, and several acres have been in
this manner reclaimed along the banks of the river
almost up to the Parliamentary limits. These depo-
sits of earth were well adapted to the growth of trees
and shrubs, which consist of the choicest kinds of
both, and have flourished luxuriantly. Due caution
having been taken in their selection to reject such
kinds as were known to dislike a smoky locality,
the result is that this park containsone of the richest
collections in or near London. About 200 acres are
here appropriated to ornamental and recreative pur-
poses in some such proportion as follows, viz., grass
surface, 100 acres ; water, 20 ; and shrubberies,
plantations, drives, and walks, 80.
About 34 acres have been specially prepared for
cricket, embracing match grounds and practice
ground for schools, as well as for the public gene-
rally. There is likewise a separate practice piece for
clubs, about 120 of which have availed themselves of
it this season. On the two match grounds 499