St. James's Park

Saül G./ Alex B.
               
                                                        St. James’s Park


James Park is an area of 23 hectares in the area of Westminster, central London and it is the oldest of the Royal Parks of the city. It is located at the southern end of the St.James’s. The park has a small lake, St. James’s Park Lake, with two islands, Puck island and west island. A bridge across the lake offers a magnificest view to the west of Buckingham palace framed by trees anb fountains.
In 1532, Henry VIII bought the swampy marsh area. This land bordered on the west by The Palace of York, recently bought by Henry Cardinal Wolsey, was purchased to make the palace of York in a situable residence for the king, when the throne in 1603, he ordered to drain the park, to be landscaped, and be nome to several exotic animals.
During the exile of Kings Charles II in France during the Commonwealth of England, the young king was very impressed by the elaborate gardens of French royal palaces, and after his return from France ordered to give the park a more formal look. This work was probably commissioned to the French.
The 18th century saw many changes, including the claim of the channel by the Horse Guards Parade and the acquisition in 1761 of Buckingham House by the royal family.