2-970-247 - /Heritage Images

Plan of the New Opening into St. James's-Park, 1856. Planning controversy in London. 'The facilities granted to hired carriages a few years since having been suddenly stopped in the autumn of last year, much grumbling followed. Soon after the public were alarmed by a row of scaffold-poles appearing across the park, and it was ascertained that a contract was positively making or made for a new road and bridge cutting the park and the ornamental water in two. The press was roused...Sir John Shelley, on the part of his constituents, addressed a letter to Sir Benjamin Hall, who replied that he was acting under the direction of the Home Secretary...the Committee...unanimously refused a road-bridge across the park; but they recommended a foot-bridge, at a cost of £2800. They agreed to the road into the park over the site of the German Chapel, at £21,900, by a majority of eight to three...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.