“March’d rank and file, with drum and ensign T’ intrench the city for defence in, Raised rampiers with their own soft hands To put the enemy to stands; From ladies down to oyster-wenches, Labour’d like pioneers in trenches; Fall’n to their pickaxes and tools, And helped the men to dig like moles.” [Picture: Fort—formerly at Hyde Park Corner] And Nash, in a note on this passage, says:— “Ladies Middlesex, Foster, Anne Waller, and Mrs. Dunch, were particularly remarkable for their activity.” One of these forts stood on the brow of the hill at Hyde Park Corner; it was a large one, consisting of four bastions, commanding the ascent and the adjoining fields. Four years afterwards—no further use remaining for them—the House of Commons ordered their removal. Dr. King relates an interesting anecdote of Charles II. meeting his brother James at this spot, on his return from a hunting excursion, and escorted by a party of the Guards. Charles, who was out for a stroll in the Park, of which he was very fond, was attended by but two of his Court. The Guards recognising the King, halted; and James being acquainted with the cause thereof, stepped from his coach, and saluted his brother, but expressed his surprise to meet him there almost unattended, and thought he exposed himself to some danger. “No kind of danger, James,” replied Charles, “for I am sure no man in England will take away my life to make you king.” {129} Respecting this interesting anecdote, a tradition tells us that Charles II. was very partial to a walk in Hyde Park, and that at the spot to which he limited himself generally he planted two acorns from the Boscobel Tree. The trees from them grew at the north side of the Serpentine, just where the road turns off by the magazine towards Bayswater. For many years they were fenced in, but one only now remains; the other, much decayed, was removed in 1854. [Picture: Oak, planted by Charles the Second] Hyde Park Corner is now the most magnificent entrance to the metropolis; the entrances to the Parks, Apsley House, and, in the background, the glorious towers of Westminster, form a scene at once imposing and national. Formerly the entrance was very mean; a turnpike blocked the way, and instead of the classic archways, paltry lodges and iron gates led to the parks. Between the lodge and park side was a dead wall, eight feet high, built in the reign of Charles II., but removed in 1828. The toll-house was sold by auction, October 4th, 1825, and cleared away immediately. [Picture: Hyde Park Corner—1824] The existing entrance to Hyde Park was completed in 1828, from designs of Mr. Decimus Burton; the frieze was designed by Archibald Henning; the ironwork by Bramah. The Triumphal Arch leading to Constitution Hill was built about the same time; its beautiful gates were likewise the work of Bramah.