Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-28
LoSDoN's .IsLE OF Dogs"
The Smallest Park of the Metropolis,
Opposite Greenwich Hospital.

AsDAiAoh AAhhFF
Perhaps the most out-of-the-way, as Il
certainly is one of the smallest. or Lon
don's many lungs is the tiny park
situated AT the southern extremity of the
Isle Of Dogs. For more than three years
has it been open to the public. yet how
many. or how few, rather, are aware
Of its e~xistencei
Nor Is this surprising, for the ISLAND
itself has always been more or less Of
a terra incognita 20 metrOpOlitans. Even
the origin OF the uninvitiEg title IS in
volyed in obscurity; some authorities de
claring il TO be n corruption OF Isle OF
Ducks" while others assert that it was
first so called owing to the fact Of the
royal kennels being situated there in
Charles lis time. For centuries prior
to that ii was a dismal swamp. uuinhabi-
ted and uninhabitable, save and except
for rowing bands Of river pirates, who
found within its nOisOme recesses a safe
and secure abiding place. Pepys alludes
to it as that unlucky Isle Of Dogs
And "unlucky' it has remained ever
since. over and over again the tur0id
waters of the Thames a devastated il.
In 1870 a flood carried away AL the in
habitations" on the island. and in 1875
lltlt NIc DtiL OiN A'NrN "a AH '
marsh"
In 1850 it was described as zone Of the
hest limitations Of the Great Dismal
Swamp to be found in England" Broad
bitches filed with black. sinking mud
and malodorous water intersected II IN
every direction; and a large proportion
Of its inhabitants, at all events, were
criminals who had fed from justice. Five
Of these were taken in one day and
hanged in chains on the toreshore OF the
Thames: and from Greenwich Hospital
opposite. sober citizens i'm broadcl0th and
gallants in silk and velvet-aye, ana dainty
danes in frills and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ed 10 gaze, through telescopes lent by the
aged pensioners at a penny a head, at
the CHASTITY, grisly. swaying things.
To-day the island exists as a sort OF
backwater in the stream of London life.
Away to the northward, through the great
main artery of the East India Dock-road,
throbs eteInally tho turmoil OF the town.
But IFS reaction upon the everlasting pla-
ciditv of the island peninsula 10 the south
OF IT is Of the slightest. The Isle Of Dogs
IS. i'm fact, a forgotten. not to say neg
lected. corner of London. No buses run
10 or through IL. Its streets are unseam-
ed by tramways. There IS not a single
cabstand in the place. only, az intervals
Of fifteen minutes, "a perky, pulling little
engine drags a miniature train of baby
carriages from the Greenwich ferry 10
MillwaIl Junction. other communication
with the outside world there is none.
Nevertheless. as has been said, 1t has
its park, with trim parterres. asphalt
walks. and a real %octagOnal band-stand
Of the latest and most approved pattern.
from whence a real live County Council
band %discourses sweet music every sun
day evening throughout the summer.
Curiously enough. the possession by the
inhabitants ofNihis boon can be directly
traced 10 the enterprise and foresight OF
Sir Christopher Wren.
When the great architect selected the
curving. baylike sweep Of ground imme-
diately opposite the island as a fitting
site for Greenwich Hospital, he made q
stipulation that the ground on the other
side of the river should not be built upon.
.l"Otherwise." he urged. the appearance
of my work. viewed from the MiddleseX
bank of the Thames. Will be entirely
spoiled." Very well" replied his royal
patron. King William III, Of happy
memory. lit shall be as you desire. -
And forthwith a plot of three acres Of
ground. more or less, was acquired, and
vested in the trustees OF the hospital
in question. the stipulation being that it
should be preserved as an open space for
all time.