The title is a slight variation on the famous book and movie “How Green is My Valley.” But, if we take the title literally, we come up with Green Park which is one of the main Royal Parks located in central London. We do not know who first named the park but we can assume he was a person of little imagination. The park itself is mainly just grass and trees. And so, since they are both green most of the time, that is how it got its name.
Regarding the history of the park, Henry VIII first enclosed the land that would become the park, but it was King Charles II who had the grounds laid out for him to indulge himself. One of the things he had built was what was called a snow house. This is exactly what it says on the can; an enclosure using ice and snow to keep it cool in summer and thus allowing the monarch to relax and enjoy a cooling refreshment. No commoners were allowed access of course.
The shape of Green Park is roughly triangular with the north bordered by Piccadilly and the other sides by Constitution Hill and a short area of The Mall. This, of course places it very close to Buckingham Palace. If you want to visit it, get off at Green Park Tube station. It is right outside.
George III and his wife, Queen Caroline often walked along the east side of the park which is now known as the Queen’s Walk. She had a summerhouse built there which is no longer there. But it wasn’t all nice walks and cool drinks. By the eighteenth-century it was a favoured location to carry out duels. A number of Lords and other members of the nobility fought for their honour here. And, as usual, very few of these ended in the death of one party or another. In fact, the one between 1st Earl of Bristol and the Italian dramatist Count Alfieri, ended when the latter was wounded by a sword in the arm. However, he was not too perturbed as it is reported he returned straight to the Haymarket Theatre in time to see a play.
Strangely enough, there is supposed to be a haunted tree situated somewhere within the park. I wrote an article about tit many years ago. Unfortunately, I was not able to find it or any trace of where it was supposed to be.
John Pullen 