Greenwich

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 edition. Excerpt: ...previous to the Naval Asylum being incorporated with the Royal Hospital was appropriated to the Hospital school. The schools are supported from the general funds of the Royal Hospital Chapter VI. THE PARK AND ROYAL OBSERVATORY. This delightful Park is that previously mentioned as having been enclosed by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in 1433, by license of King Henry V. It contains about 188 acres, was walled round by King James I, and laid out in a very picturesque manner by Le Notre, a Dane, in 1664, during the reign of King Charles II: it is planted chiefly with elms and chesnuts, some of which are of large circumference, f There is a number of very fine deer in the Park, and many of them are extremely tame. The views from the hills are very beautiful, particularly from that denominated One-tree Hill: "1664. This spring I planted the Home-field and Westfield, about Say's Court, Deptford, With elmes, being the same yeare that the ebnes were planted in Greenwich Park."–Evelyn's Diary. f One, a short distance from the Wilderness pond, a chesnut tree, measures eighteen feet and a half in circumference. J So called from there having been but one tree on its summit; this tree, however, is now greatly decayed, and six others have lately been planted near it. Some years since it was called Five-tree Hill. from this hill the eye embraces in its extensive range the fine lawns and diversified foliage of the Park, the splendid Hospital for Seamen, the winding Thames with its surface crowded with vessels of all descriptions, the rich flat coast of Essex, the Metropolis with its numerous buildings, and the verdant hills of Surrey; forming, altogether, an unique and pleasing view. A project was in contemplation about the year 1816 of...