Hyde Park Corner

Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge.

In the centre of the roundabout stands Constitution Arch (or Wellington Arch), designed by Decimus Burton as a memorial to the Duke of Wellington and originally providing a grand entrance to London. It was built as a northern gate to the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Originally the arch was topped with an equestrian statue of the Duke by Matthew Cotes Wyatt, but it was replaced with the current work, The Quadriga (1912) by Adrian Jones.

In the post-war years Park Lane was widened and the area around the arch became a large traffic island. This is mostly laid to grass. An underpass beneath the junction allows traffic to flow freely between Knightsbridge and Piccadilly.

In addition to the Arch other features include the Monument to the Cavalry of the Empire, the Boy and Dolphin statue, a statue of Byron and the Royal Artillery Memorial.

An Australian War Memorial was added in 2003 and a New Zealand War Memorial on 11th November 2006. Designed by architect John Hardwick-Smith and sculptor Paul Dibble [http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/artists/pauldibble/] the New Zealand memorial consists of 16 cross-shaped vertical bronze 'standards' set out in formation on a grassy slope. Each standard is adorned with text, patterns and small sculptures. Richard Shone, editor of The Burlington Magazine has criticised the statue and others in an attack on the 'infestation of public space'. [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article3359723.ece Time to rein in ‘Frankenstein statues’ that are stalking streets, say art curators] . Retrieved 13 February 2008.]

Queen Elizabeth Gate and the Hyde Park Corner Screen are on the boundary of Hyde Park at Hyde Park Corner. To the north of the roundabout is Apsley House, the home of the first Duke of Wellington.

The closest tube station is Hyde Park Corner.

"Hyde Park Corner" was also used as a code to announce to the Government the death of King George VI in 1952.

Memorials at Hyde Park Corner

ee also

* St George's Hospital
* The Lanesborough hotel
* Hyde Park Corner tube station

References