Original description by George Birch in 1894
St. James’s Park is close to Charing Cross and joins the South-East portion of the Green Park. The greater part of it is occupied by a large sheet of shallow ornamental water, much used for skating when the weather serves. The Mall, a broad walk lined with rows of elms, limes and planes, runs along the north side, and on the east is the parade ground of the Horse Guards. St. James’s Park was at one time a marshy meadow, and belonged to the Hospital for Lepers. Henry the Eighth converted the hospital into a palace (St. James’s Palace) and had the marsh drained and made into a deer park, which was subsequently added to by Charles the Second who had it laid out as a pleasure ground. The present form of St. James’s Park dates from 1829, and it is now one of the most attractive and beautiful parks in London.
Other observations
The building at left is Bird Keepers Cottage. The building beyond the tree at right seems to be the western end of the Foreign Office.
Geolocation
Subject at centre of picture: TQ 2988 7986
Camera position: TQ 2986 7982 approx
Camera height: 5ft
View direction: NE
View angle: ??° approx.
Focal length (35mm equiv): ??mm approx.
Nearest similar geograph
Geograph has 290 pictures of the park, but none matching Birch’s view.
Technical information
See here.