As it is plain to see from the above map, which shows Green Park as it was from 1893 to 1896, this expanse of land was located directly behind Buckingham Palace, the primary homestead of the British Royal Family, and extended a ways north, so close to royal ground that the Palace Gardens actually bisect the land. One has to wonder if this was planned on purpose, as to give the common folk a taste of the landscape that greeted the British Royals every morning.

In Evelyn Sharp’s short story “In Dull Brown,” Green Park is featured momentarily as Jean and Nancy pass by at morning in an omnibus. Jean momentarily takes herself out of her melancholy state to gaze upon the Green Park, commenting: ‘” Just imagine missing that glorious effect,” she thought to herself, as they rumbled along the edge of the Green Park where the mist was slowly yielding to the warmth of the sun and allowing
itself to be coaxed out of growing into a fog.” (Sharp, 182) The beauty of the land was enough to warrant its own passage, even though the characters were only passing by and not spending a significant amount of time inside.

Above is a modern view of Green Park, taken by George P. Landow for “The Victorian Web.” This pathway, which is described by Landow as “walking from the Buckingham Palace gates toward Oxford Street,” may do as well to remind one of the Central Park Mall in Manhattan’s Central Park. According to William Atkinson’s account from The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, taken on the 11th of April, 1749, fireworks were also shown in Green Park from time to time, as he was present at one of these events.

However, even though the Green Park seemed to be in a safe area because of its close proximity to Buckingham Palace and its gorgeous scenery, it was also the scene of many crimes, ranging from robbery to even sexual assault. For example, a man named John Alders was indicted on the charges of highway robbery that occurred in the Green Park on the 24th of February, 1768.

Green Park, London, United Kingdom. Digital image. London – OS Town Plan 1893-6. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <https://mapsengine.google.com/07550989709782409818-08328807677136535917-4/mapview/?authuser=0>.

Landow, George P. Green Park, London. Digital image. The Victorian Web. 12 July 2001. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/art/parks/1.html>.

Sharp, Evelyn. “In Dull Brown.” The Yellow Book 8 (January 1896): 181-200. The Yellow Nineties Online.Ed. Dennis Denisoff and Lorraine Janzen Kooistra. Ryerson University, 2012. Web. 7 September 2015. http://1890s.ca/HTML.aspx?s=YBV8_sharp_dull.html

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.2, 07 September 2015), April 1749, trial of Susannah Plymouth (t17490411-49).

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.2, 07 September 2015), February 1768, trial of John Alders (t17680224-39).