|
|
Grosvenor Square Central Garden
Previous page: News Of The Battle Of Waterloo
The whole of Grosvenor Square covers about six acres, and the central garden is extensive. It was originally reserved for the use of the occupants of the houses as was standard in a London square, is now a public park managed by The Royal Parks.
The garden was laid out by the celebrated Kent, and in the middle of it once stood Van Nost's gilt statue of George I. This sculpture was erected Sir Richard Grosvenor in 1726, almost on the spot where the redoubt known as Oliver's Mount was formed during the Civil Wars.
A view of the Square reproduced in Strype's edition of Stow, 1755 (in which it is called Grosvenor Square) shows the circular garden enclosed by wooden palings. It also illustrates the equestrian statue standing on a square grass plot surrounded by flowerbeds, which is almost identical to the smaller plan by Rocque, 1741—45.
Pollard's later view of 1787 shows only a portion of the Square in perspective.
Some months after the statue had been placed in the garden, "some villains dismembered it in the most shameful manner," according to Allen, "and affixed a traitorous paper to the pedestal."
Every effort was made by Sir Richard Grosvenor to bring the perpetrators of the deed to justice; in fact he offered a reward of £100 for their apprehension, but they were never discovered. The statue was removed a long time ago, to be replaced by a summerhouse.
Next page: Link Boys
|
|
|
