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Post by spindrift on Jun 19, 2010 16:38:17 GMT
Regent's Park, London is one of the Royal Parks of London. It covers 410 acres in central London including a lake and rose gardens exhibiting over 400 varieties of roses. The Park is the largest area of grass in central London containing an Open Air theatre, a Zoo and numerous restaurants and cafes. Regent's Park was once part of the extensive Forest of Middlesex. On the dissolution of the monasteries (1536-40) King Henry VIII acquired the Manor of Tyburn and created a hunting ground, Marylebone Park, which covered almost the same area as the acres that comprise the Park today. The chase remained in royal hands until the end of the Civil War in 1646 when Oliver Cromwell sold it off to pay his army. Over 16,000 trees were felled at the time. In 1660 when Charles II was restored to the throne, the Park was given back to him and the land was used for farming. In 1760 King George III surrendered revenues from the land in exchange for the Civil List and in 1794 the land was surveyed and found suitable for development. The Prince Regent, the future King George IV (1762 - 1830), commissioned his friend John Nash to develop Regent's Park as we know it today. A vast rounded park was designed by John Nash surrounded by palatial terraces, a lake, a canal, 56 planned villas and a summer palace for the prince (which was never built). The Park has been open to the public since 1845. To give you an idea of Nash's terraces, here is a picture of some of the houses at Park Square East. A friend of mine used to live at number 17 (photographed) which is now owned by the Prince's Trust. .
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2010 17:12:09 GMT
This is going to be good...
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Post by spindrift on Jun 20, 2010 11:25:55 GMT
The Open Air theatre is in the Inner Circle of the Park together with Queen Mary's Rose Garden. My companion and I took the underground to Regent's Park where we surfaced, crossed the busy Marylebone Road and entered the park at Park Square East. Then we strolled through the gardens
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Post by spindrift on Jun 20, 2010 11:48:41 GMT
...then we came to the Boating Lake where pedallos and boats can be hired (£6.50 for the first hour and then £4.85 for each 30 minutes thereafter)... the scene for many movies. ... we passed many deckchairs on our way... And what could be better, in central London, than spending a sunny afternoon in the park?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2010 23:47:49 GMT
Just beautiful, Spindrift! It's wonderful to see these places which appear in novels and in history, and to start off with your illuminating explanation of how it came about.
The park is glorious ~~ stately, yet welcoming.
More! More!
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Post by hwinpp on Jun 21, 2010 8:10:10 GMT
Wonderful pictures, SD!
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Post by tillystar on Jun 21, 2010 8:14:32 GMT
Yes, lovely and definately more please!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2010 11:16:22 GMT
Great essay, Sprindrift! I never realized that Regents Park was that big. I'm familiar with it as I worked for some years not too far from there. I remember going boating on the lake! The Parks are just lovely, so well maintained too.
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Post by spindrift on Jun 21, 2010 21:16:34 GMT
I'm delighted you all like it. We are now approaching Queen Mary's Gardens which are entered through the marvellous Jubilee gates. These were erected in 1935. Queen Mary's Gardens are in the park's Inner Circle, only opened to the public in 1935. The area includes the famous Rose Gardens, a cascade, a small Japanese garden, herbaceous borders, a waterfall and the Triton fountain. Unfortunately I did not manage to see all of these features, being in a hurry to attend a matinee performance of Arthur Miller's play THE CRUCIBLE. Jubilee Gates My companion did not know that I had lived close to Regent's Park and that I knew about the extensive Rose Gardens. When he met me at Waterloo station he told me that he was going to show me the 8th Wonder of the World. Of course he meant the Rose Gardens! And they are beautiful, are they not? I've got a 'thing' about bright yellow and orange roses so I did not photograph any, but there were plenty of them. I was amazed that I did not spy even one weed and not one rose had rust! *more to follow
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Post by spindrift on Jun 21, 2010 21:31:22 GMT
I would like to copy the way the roses have been trained along these thick ropes. Here is one of my favourite varieties of rose called 'Iceberg'. And now we reached the Open Air theatre.
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Post by spindrift on Jun 21, 2010 22:05:41 GMT
Regent's Park Open Air theatre is a permanent venue with a three to four month summer season. The theatre claims to have the longest bar in Britain - it stretches the entire length of the seating. A barbeque is also provided as well as a picnic lawn where people can enjoy their own picnics before a performance (although cars have to be parked at a distance and it is a long way to carry heavy baskets!). Shows are always dependent on the weather. If it is raining the show will be cancelled and one can come along on another day. Four plays are planned for the 2010 Summer Season. They are The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, Into the Woods and The Crucible.Photography is not allowed but I was able to take photos of the outdoor stage and seating. And I thought you might find the following pictures interesting describing the play I was about to see The Crucible. After the performance we walked back through the park towards Baker Street (of Sherlock Holmes fame) passing visiting geese and a heron. Wearily we made our way back to Waterloo station where we had a pot of tea on a balcony overlooking the rush-hour chaos! the end
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 22, 2010 2:41:07 GMT
I have never seen so many roses in one spot, nor such a mass of blooms! Wow -- it's really Alice in Wonderland. I expected to see playing card workers hard at work on changing the colors. Perhaps they could be persuaded to change your despised yellow or orange ones to something else.
The column & swag combinations are as beautiful and romantic as anything -- probably my favorite thing, although I did sigh over the magnificent delphiniums. I believe that is philadelphus beneath the delphinium, but what is that amazing shaggy white-tipped thing beneath the philadelphus?
You certainly had a perfect day for the outdoor performance. The reviews are glowing -- no wonder you were excited. Was it as good as you'd hoped?
I love your heron photo, and the whole thing was a real treat.
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Post by spindrift on Jun 22, 2010 8:36:42 GMT
Those delphiniums were stunning because there was a long border just filled with them. I didn't go over to the cascade of white blossom so I can't tell you what it is.
About the play. I had never seen or read a play by Arthur Miller and so I was overwhelmed by what I experienced. The lead part of Proctor was played by a most talented young Irish actor who put all of his emotions into the character. I have no idea how he could do this especially as he had to do it twice in one day! I am now avid to see other plays by Miller. I believe there is another one playing in London with Zoe Wannamaker and David Suchet in the leading roles.
I'd like to discuss The Crucible with those who have seen it so I might make a thread on the Arts branch. I read somewhere that it is required reading in most American schools but have no idea whether this is true or not.
Of course it would have been more atmospheric during the evening performance when dusk would be falling, rather than seeing it all in bright sunlight.
If the good weather keeps up next week I think I'll make the journey again to the Rose Gardens just so that I can sit quietly by myself among them instead of keeping up a conversation with a companion.
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Post by tillystar on Jun 22, 2010 9:21:17 GMT
You’ve encouraged me to visit Regents Park this summer, it’s not so far so would be rude not to after seeing your lovely pictures.
I’d love to hear about the performance of The Crucible you saw, when you mentioned you had been I was keen to hear more. I have read it many times and seen the film but never a live performance. I would love to, especially as I went to see the play (All my Sons) you mention with Zoe Wannermaker and David Suchet. It was absolutely mind-blowing and if you do get the opportunity to go I wouldn’t hesitate. I can’t think of a more powerful play I have seen or more powerful performances than those two give.
We studied it at school (in the UK) and I think it is still on the GCSE reading list here as my mum teaches GCSE English and it is one of the several books that seem to flat around her bag and desk year after year!
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Post by palesa on Jun 22, 2010 10:14:55 GMT
These are so pretty, I hope I make it back to the UK one day and if I do, this will definitely be on my must see list. Thank you Spindrift
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Post by spindrift on Jun 22, 2010 12:07:09 GMT
Tilly - I shall be going to see "All my Sons". I am delighted to have discovered Arthur Miller for myself; how did I manage to miss him all these years? Palesa - June is the time for roses in England... And I've decided to visit the rose gardens at Mottisfont Abbey on Friday (if the weather holds good). Actually I find them more beautiful than the gardens at Regent's Park. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-mottisfont
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Post by tillystar on Jun 22, 2010 12:09:37 GMT
Oh I am really excited for you, you are in for a treat!
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Post by bazfaz on Jun 23, 2010 14:19:55 GMT
Lovely photos. I know Regent's Park well as I used to go there for a picnic lunch when I worked not far away.
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