Gwynn's proposed improvements to Hyde Park and City of Westminster

GWYNN, John

A Plan of Hyde-Park with the City and Liberties of Westminster &c. shewing the several Improvements propos'd.
London, 1766. Original colour. 330 x 510mm.

Trimmed to platemark on left and top edge. Minor repairs, cracks in old folds.

Rare plan showing John Gwynn’s proposed improvements to Hyde Park and Westminster and the areas around it, including Mayfair, St. James's, Marylebone, Bloomsbury, Covent Garden and a part of South Bank. He plans two royal palaces, one in the middle of Hyde Park and one between Green Park and St. James Street. The red lines show an intention to regularize the street plan, replacing the irregular streets with a gridlike formation.
This map is one of four plans published by the Architect John Gwynn in his work 'London and Westminster Improved, Illustrated by Plans', in which he advocates a completely new street layout involving huge efforts and demolition of many buildings in the area. He calls for the commissioning of public works from British artists, and integrated urban planning for London. According to the Royal Academy "his proposals and maps foreshadow such developments as Regent Street, Waterloo Bridge, the Thames Embankment and Trafalgar Square".


Stock ID : 24085