"London Parks and Gardens" by Mrs. Evelyn Cecil is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book focuses on the parks, gardens, squares, and open spaces within the County of London, exploring their origins, development, and significance. Its primary aim is to provide readers with a coherent history and present-day account of these green spaces, highlighting both famous and lesser-known locations. The work is likely to appeal to enthusiasts
of London’s urban landscape, gardening history, and those interested in the social and cultural importance of public spaces. The opening of "London Parks and Gardens" establishes the book’s unique focus: offering, for the first time, a comprehensive look at the history and features of London's parks and gardens as a whole. The author outlines her scope—strictly staying within the London County Council’s official boundaries—and expresses gratitude to those who assisted her research. The introduction paints a vivid picture of London’s complexity and contrasts, emphasizing the parks and gardens as vital oases that serve all classes of society. The narrative then traces the historical roots of these spaces, from monastic and noble gardens to public open grounds, touching upon lost and surviving examples, their role in public health and recreation, the evolution of horticultural practices, and the need for ongoing improvement and education. The early chapters provide historical context, practical details, and anecdotes, setting the stage for detailed discussions of individual parks beginning with Hyde Park. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Introductory -- Hyde Park -- St. James's and Green Parks -- Regent's Park -- Greenwich Park -- Municipal parks -- South London parks -- Commons and open spaces -- Squares -- Burial-grounds -- Inns of Court -- Historical gardens -- Private gardens -- Appendix to Private gardens: Charlton -- List of some of the works consulted -- Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens: List of trees and shrubs.
Credits
The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 64.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
