Plaque

Ha-ha in Hyde Park

Inscription

28th April 2004, Re. Restoring of the Middle Bastion.
As a minor project on this site, the Royal Parks Agency are currently exposing a section of the Middle Bastion along the east boundary of Kensington Gardens.
The middle bastion was originally constructed by Queen Caroline (married to George II) in 1730-1, when Charles Bridgeman was Royal gardener (1726-38) in Kensington Gardens. One of the first things Queen Caroline did was claim land from Hyde Park to greatly increase her garden's pleasure grounds. {The} Public were allowed in Hyde Park, therefore the construction of the bastion around the new boundary of Kensington Gardens ensured that they stayed out. The bastion also enabled those inside the gardens to be protected from external view, and permitted them also to be able to look out on the world. The middle bastion remained on this site until 1916, when it was filled in with soil and refuse, and the boundary was thereafter marked with a fence line.

We find the terminology used on the information board confusing; 'bastion' is used when 'ha-ha' would make more sense.  British History says "At each angle of this wall and fosse {the ha-ha} semicircular projections were formed, which were termed bastions."

Site: Ha-ha in Hyde Park (1 memorial)

W2, West Carriage Drive

When Londonist recently posted about Ha-Ha Road in Woolwich we commented that there was a surviving ha-ha in Richmond and then we find this ha-ha in the middle of Hyde Park.  You can go for years without seeing a ha-ha and then three come along at once.  Since then we have seen the Woolwich ha-ha and it is a fine example of the species.

See another board about the same structure further north.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Ha-ha in Hyde Park

Subjects commemorated i

Queen Caroline of Anspach

Queen consort of George II.  Born Ansbach.  She and her husband came to Brita...

Read More

Charles Bridgeman

Landscape gardener.  As Royal Gardener 1726-38, he laid out Kensington Garden...

Read More

King George II

Born Hanover, Germany, died Kensington, Palace, London. Reigned: 1727 - 1760....

Read More

Kensington Gardens

Royal Parks say: "William III bought what was originally part of Hyde Park in...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Ha-ha in Hyde Park

Created by i

The Royal Parks

Manages 8 major Royal Parks covering 5,000 acres:  Bushy Park (with the Longf...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - SE23

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - SE23

SE23, Manor Mount, 2

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1906 - 1945, theologian and pastor, lived here, 1933 - 1935. Borough of Lewisham Presented by The International Bonh...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
River Effra - Canterbury Square 4

River Effra - Canterbury Square 4

SW9, Brixton Road, Canterbury Square

Photographed and numbered from north to south. A nearby information board: On your right is the old Roman road to the south coast (now t...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Kenny Everett - W8

Kenny Everett - W8

W8, Lexham Gardens, 91

Kenny Everett 25 December 1944 to 4 April 1995. Revolutionary broadcaster and entertainer lived here from 1981 to 1995. To preserve and f...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Pickwick Bicycle Club

Pickwick Bicycle Club

E5, Downs Road, 75, Downs Hotel

Hackney Citizen 25 June 2014 gives the history of the club and explains "A commemorative plaque marking the home of the club was fixed to...

2 subjects commemorated
Alfred Stevens

Alfred Stevens

NW3, Eton Villas, 9

This is a delightful but unusual row of houses - with the gardens at their front.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator