A Plan of Hyde Park with the City and Liberties of Westminster & c Shewing the several Improvements Propos'd

This is a cartographic diagram of John Gwynn’s radical proposed re-redevelopment of Hyde Park and Mayfair, west London.

Gwynn was an architect and artist who firmly believed that if London was to become the world famous metropolis that it was destined to be, it would need major re-development. This would be begun by the construction of a new Royal Palace. He believed that St. James’s Palace was a ramshackle impractical building and Buckingham Palace, which at this point was the “Queen’s Palace” was too small and insignificant to be a true Royal Palace. The palaces were just the first step; they would be followed by major demolition and re-building of the surrounding urban area.

In 1766, he published a work entitled “London and Westminster Improved” where he summerises his proposal; the work is illustrated with four maps, of which this is the most important as it shows all of his possible schemes. His most ambitious project shows a vast new Palace built in the centre of Hyde Park; if that was deemed to expensive, he suggests building a new Palace in the area of St. James. Once the palaces were built, the whole area would also be re-developed in keeping with the new grand buildings designed for the Royal Family.

Needless to say, none of Gwynn’s ideas were ever implemented.

Original colour. [LDN7333]