Exhibition: Parks: Our Shared Heritage

London’s Royal Parks have evolved over the past 500 years from monarchical deer hunting grounds to the world famous parks we know and love today, accessible to all and enjoyed by millions from across the globe.

For the first time ever, London will host an exhibition exploring this rich history, with rarely seen artefacts including oil paintings, photographs, and historical documents spanning three centuries.

The exhibition will also look at the history of Phoenix Park in Dublin, which was formed in 1662 as Ireland’s only royal deer park, and is today managed by the Office of Public Works, Ireland.

The Royal Parks that we enjoy today have been free to access by the general public for decades, but this wasn’t always the case.

The exhibition doesn’t just demonstrate change however; it also shows how tradition endures. A photo of George VI’s coronation in 1937, taken from the roof of Buckingham Palace, is almost identical to the ceremonial occasions we host today on The Mall in St James’s Park, such as Trooping of the Colour to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday.

In 1851, the Royal Parks of London became public parks with the introduction of the Crown Lands Act. Following this, the Royal Parks were used extensively by Government to aid the military effort in both World Wars of the 20th century. This is showcased with photos of soldiers performing drills with rifles in the Serpentine Lake, and Hyde Park being used as a salvage depot.