Gardens -- England -- London; London (England) -- Description and travel; Parks -- England -- London
than a hundred years ago, and but for the few green trees, nothing
suggests the former country origin. Trinity Square, by the Tower, is
so unique in aspect and association that it must be mentioned. In the
sixteenth century the “tenements and garden plots” encroached on Tower
Hill right up to the “Tower Ditch,” and from the earliest time some
kind of garden existed at the Tower. When it was a royal residence,
frequent entries appear in the accounts of payments for the upkeep of
the garden. Although so much has changed, and the wild animals that
afforded amusement for centuries are removed, it is pleasant to see the
moat turned into walks, and well planted with iris and hardy plants,
and making quite a bright show in summer, in contrast to the sombre
grey walls.
Away in the East End there are numbers of other gloomy little squares
whose gardens are the playground of the neighbourhood. They are
useful spaces of air and light, and the few trees and low houses
surrounding them give a little ventilation in some of the very crowded
districts. They are all much alike; in some more care has been taken
in the planting and selection of the trees than in others. There is
De Beauvoir Square, Dalston; Arbour Square, off the Commercial Road;
York Square, Stepney; Wellclose, near the Mint and London Docks;
Trafalgar Square, Mile End; and many others dotted about among the
dismal streets. Turning to the West End again, the largest of the
square spaces is Vincent Square, which forms the playground of the
Westminster boys. It derives its name from Dr. Vincent, the head-master
who was chiefly instrumental in obtaining it for the use of the boys.
It was first marked out in 1810, and enclosed by railings in 1842. The
10 acres of ground were part of Tothill Fields, and the site was a
burial-place in the time of the Great Plague.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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