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Title: Primrose Hill Park, Regent's Park, and Hampstead Heath
Author: Smee, William Ray
Language: English
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AND HAMPSTEAD HEATH***
Transcribed from the 1873 Shaw and Sons edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org
[Picture: Pamphlet cover]
_PRIVATE CIRCULATION_.
* * * * *
PRIMROSE HILL PARK,
REGENT’S PARK,
AND
HAMPSTEAD HEATH.
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
LONDON:
PRINTED BY SHAW AND SONS, FETTER LANE, E.C.
1873.
* * * * *
PREFACE.
THE main object sought to be attained in this correspondence was to
induce the Government to purchase two plots of land adjoining Primrose
Hill Park, together about eighteen acres, that space may be given to a
great and rapidly-increasing population for football and cricket. It is
probable most persons who know the wants of the district will be of
opinion that it is very desirable this should be done. Every summer’s
evening there is, in the small space of ground now available in the
Regent’s Park, over-crowding and a badly made game. Many who wish to
play cannot for want of room, and two fine boys, about fourteen years of
age, complained that they were frequently hit, and the balls crossed each
other so closely that they did not know their own ball. But another
proposal was incidentally mentioned, upon which there cannot be the same
unanimity. It is suggested that a road should be made from the top of
Portland Place for equestrians, carriages, and cabs through the Regent’s
Park, and then to some part of Hampstead Heath. If any one considering
this question will stand at the top of Portland Place and imagine the
same carried on straight through the park, and then, as far as now can be
done, a park-like road made to the Heath, and reflect how charming and
healthy such a drive and ride must be, with the bracing air and beautiful
views on all sides, easy and pleasant of access, he, perhaps, may think
the scheme worthy of very careful investigation.
Those who are acquainted with Paris know the extraordinary change for the
better effected when a new and direct road was carried from the Arc de
L’Etoile to the Bois de Boulogne, and it is to be presumed that
improvements will, without loss of time, be made in Hampstead Heath, and,
as in the Bois de Boulogne, suitable rides and drives created. The
natural advantages of the situation are in favour of London as compared
with Paris, and it is not too much to say, if proper use is made of them,
that, as a whole, Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill Park, and Hampstead Heath
will, for all the purposes that parks are formed, be unsurpassed in
Europe.
But to open the park at Portland Place may require an Act of Parliament,
and many may think the Regent’s Park is best as it is; nevertheless, the
extreme beauty of a road through the centre of the Regent’s Park, in
addition to being so much nearer, ought to be a consideration. It will
shorten the drive to Primrose Hill going and returning, over the present
route, nearly a mile; but should this not be deemed sufficient reason for
the change, then it may be desirable to make a carriage bridge over the
canal instead of the present foot bridge at the end of the Broad Walk,
opening into the Albert Road at St. Mark’s Church and close by Primrose
Hill.
Should public opinion approve this scheme there is no reason to suppose
the Government will offer any opposition to it.
2, ST. EDMUND’S TERRACE,
REGENT’S PARK NORTH,
25_th_ _June_, 1873.
LETTERS.
The Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P.,
&c., &c.
SIR,
Knowing the great and arduous duties you have to perform I regret being
obliged to call your attention to a very small affair, but the case is
urgent, and in a few months buildings will be placed upon a portion of
the ground.
Primrose Hill Park is very much used by boys as a cricket or foot-ball
ground, and on Saturdays there is not enough space. Even to-day, with
the ground wet and weather not inviting, it was full, and in the summer
months boys go away because there is not room to play.
It may, therefore, be worthy of your consideration whether the Government
should not purchase the Eton and Middlesex Cricket Ground, which adjoins,
and consists of about twelve acres. This is a private ground, and, I
believe, does not pay. There is another plot of about six acres which
will be immediately built upon unless the Government at once secure it.
This would make a splendid addition to the park, and, perhaps, £20,000
would purchase the whole.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM RAY SMEE.
Regent’s Park North,
5_th_ _April_, 1873.
* * * * *
WILLIAM RAY SMEE, Esq.,
SIR,
Mr. Gladstone desires me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
6th instant.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. A. GODLEY.
10, Downing Street, Whitehall,
8_th_ _April_, 1873.
* * * * *
Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P.,
&c., &c.
SIR,
I am obliged to trouble you again respecting the purchase by the
Government of about eighteen acres of land adjoining Primrose Hill Park,
for upon a portion of it the turf is now being rapidly taken away, and
the land is to be built upon unless something is at once decided.
There is a necessity for adding this ground to the Park. The population
is rapidly increasing. Every small open space is closed. Boys and
youths who cannot afford to pay have no place for cricket except on
public property. On Saturdays, the young of more than half a million of
people come to Primrose Hill, or would come if there were space. This
afternoon there were between 2,000 and 3,000, and if the day had been
finer there would have been many more.
I showed to a gentleman well conversant with the district the ground I
thought ought to be purchased, and he assured me in five years’ time,
with the addition, space would be wanting, and strongly urged the
publication of the suggestion. That, however, I am very unwilling to do
so long as there is a prospect of the Government acting in this business,
and I therefore venture respectfully to ask your decision.
Assume that the cost will be £20,000, it is only part of the interest on
that amount the Government can lose. The State is equally rich whether
the property is in money or land. The eighteen acres will make excellent
sheep land, and must yield something, and the strength and health given
to many thousand youths must speedily add to the national revenue far
more than the remainder.
The financial side of the question is really quite insignificant, but the
moral good done will be of the highest importance.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
WILLIAM RAY SMEE.
Regent’s Park North,
26_th_ _April_, 1873.
* * * * *
Before this letter was answered the following was sent:—
Mr. WILLIAM RAY SMEE presents his respects to Mr. Gladstone, and, in
reference to his communication of Saturday, wishes to say, as showing the
importance of taking into consideration the rapid increase of population;
that some years ago, when there was a field walk, but little frequented
on weekdays, from Primrose Hill to Hampstead, he proposed to Lord
Palmerston to purchase sufficient ground and make a road from the top of
Portland Place, through Regent’s Park, and round Primrose Hill straight
to Hampstead Heath.
This road along its whole length was to have been Park-like, to be used
by carriages, cabs, and persons on horseback, would have added to the
beauty of the West of London, and if the Government had thought it
desirable, might have been made to repay its cost by the surplus land
between Primrose Hill and Hampstead that might have been sold for villas.
Such a road was much wanted, and private enterprise has already made
two-thirds of it, and placed houses on both sides. Nevertheless it is
altogether different from what the State would have done. It is neither
broad nor straight. It does not add to, but takes from the beauty of the
neighbourhood. In the meantime Hampstead Heath has become public
property, and the opportunity to make a direct approach thereto from
Regent Street in a way, which foreign visitors to London would have
greatly admired, is permanently lost.
Mr. Smee mentions this, as it may still be worthy of consideration,
whether Regent’s Park might not be opened at Portland Place, and whether
anything can now be accomplished in the unmade portion of the road
between Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath.
To the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.,
&c., &c.,
Regent’s Park North,
2_nd_ _May_, 1873.
* * * * *
On the 6th May the letter of the 26th April was acknowledged:—
To WILLIAM RAY SMEE, ESQ.,
SIR,
Mr. Gladstone desires me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
2nd instant, on a matter which seems to belong to the province of the
Metropolitan Board of Works.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. A. GODLEY.
10, Downing Street,
8_th_ _May_, 1873.
* * * * *
Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P.,
SIR,
I believe with this letter, I have done all that a gentleman in a private
station can with propriety do to urge upon the Government the purchase of
two plots of land, one of six acres and the other of twelve, adjoining
Primrose Hill, to be used by boys and youths for foot-ball and cricket.
In a very short time buildings will be commenced upon the smaller plot,
and the opportunity will be lost.
How much this ground is now wanted was apparent in the numbers playing
cricket this afternoon in the Regent’s Park. In the portion allotted to
boys the wickets were placed in many cases only eight yards apart;
perhaps there were 1000 boys playing, and only those clubs were allowed
that previously had obtained permission.
The same applies to the ground for youths and men. There were, perhaps,
800 playing; one set of wickets was close to another on all sides, and it
was marvellous the game could go on without serious accidents. A
sergeant of police that happened to be passing told me it looked most
dangerous, and nothing would induce him to join; but a youth, who was
playing, said the accidents were very few,—although at first he was much
frightened, yet the danger was not so great as it appeared.
The purchase of the eighteen acres would relieve this ground, enable some
of the clubs to go to Primrose Hill, and cricket could be properly and
joyfully played, and space would be given for many who now very much wish
to play but cannot.
I have only to add, that should next Saturday afternoon prove fine, any
gentleman, about five o’clock in the afternoon, may ascertain how painful
to witness is the present over-crowded cricket ground of the Regent’s
Park.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
WILLIAM RAY SMEE.
Regent’s Park North,
10_th_ _May_, 1873.
* * * * *
WILLIAM RAY SMEE, ESQ.,
Sir,
Mr. Gladstone desires me to inform you that your letter of the 10th inst.
should have been addressed to the First Commissioner of Works.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
W. E. GURDON.
10, Downing Street,
15_th_ _May_, 1873.
* * * * *
This closes the correspondence, and upon reflection it will be apparent
that a great nation can find no better and no more economical use for a
little mite of surplus revenue than its judicious employment in providing
space for healthy, innocent, and cheap out-door amusement. The money so
spent on behalf of the population of this gigantic capital will double
itself over and over again. It is the active and the healthy that make a
nation progress. It is good sound sense, united with a vigorous frame,
that enables the man, advantageously to himself, to augment the receipts
of the British exchequer.
* * * * *
* * * * *
London: Printed by Shaw & Sons, Fetter Lane.
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