Constitution Hill, London
Encyclopedia
Constitution Hill is a road in the City of Westminster
in London
. It connects the western end of The Mall
(just in front of Buckingham Palace
) with Hyde Park Corner
, and is bordered by Buckingham Palace Gardens
and Green Park
. The term "Hill" is something of a misnomer; there is barely detectable slope but most observers would regard the road as flat. An old lane on this route was enhanced in connection with the development of Buckingham Palace
in the 1820s. It formed an official route from the palace to Hyde Park
. It is now closed to traffic on Sundays.
The road obtained its name in the 17th century from King Charles II
's habit of taking "constitutional" walks there. In Strype's Map, 1720, it is marked "Road to Kensington". In John Smith's map of 1724, it is called "Constitution Hill".
It was the scene of three assassination attempts against Queen Victoria
—in 1840 (by Edward Oxford
), 1842 (by John Francis) and 1849 (by William Hamilton). In 1850, the former Conservative
Prime Minister
Sir Robert Peel
was thrown from his horse on Constitution Hill by the gate into Green Park; he suffered a fatal injury and died three days later.
Wellington Arch
at Hyde Park Corner was originally the culmination of the route, but the effect is somewhat muted now that the Arch stands at the centre of a busy traffic island. There is a recent war memorial to Commonwealth soldiers near the top of Constitution Hill, just before Hyde Park Corner; the memorial is known as the Memorial Gates
.
There are other streets called 'Constitution Hill', for example in Birmingham
.
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It connects the western end of The Mall
The Mall (London)
The Mall in central London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. It then crosses Spring Gardens, which was where the Metropolitan Board of Works and, for a number of years, the London County Council were...
(just in front of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
) with Hyde Park Corner
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...
, and is bordered by Buckingham Palace Gardens
Buckingham Palace Gardens
The garden at Buckingham Palace is situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace. It covers much of the area of the former Goring Great Garden, named after Lord Goring, occupant of one of the earliest grand houses on the site...
and Green Park
Green Park
-External links:*...
. The term "Hill" is something of a misnomer; there is barely detectable slope but most observers would regard the road as flat. An old lane on this route was enhanced in connection with the development of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in the 1820s. It formed an official route from the palace to Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
. It is now closed to traffic on Sundays.
The road obtained its name in the 17th century from King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
's habit of taking "constitutional" walks there. In Strype's Map, 1720, it is marked "Road to Kensington". In John Smith's map of 1724, it is called "Constitution Hill".
It was the scene of three assassination attempts against Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
—in 1840 (by Edward Oxford
Edward Oxford
Edward Oxford was tried for high treason for attempting to assassinate Queen Victoria in 1840.The Queen was out riding on Constitution Hill with her husband, Prince Albert, on 10 June, when Oxford shot twice at the couple, missing both times. He was seized by onlookers, arrested and tried at the...
), 1842 (by John Francis) and 1849 (by William Hamilton). In 1850, the former Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Sir Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
was thrown from his horse on Constitution Hill by the gate into Green Park; he suffered a fatal injury and died three days later.
Wellington Arch
Wellington Arch
Wellington Arch, also known as Constitution Arch or the Green Park Arch, is a triumphal arch located to the south of Hyde Park in central London and at the north western corner of Green Park...
at Hyde Park Corner was originally the culmination of the route, but the effect is somewhat muted now that the Arch stands at the centre of a busy traffic island. There is a recent war memorial to Commonwealth soldiers near the top of Constitution Hill, just before Hyde Park Corner; the memorial is known as the Memorial Gates
Memorial Gates (Constitution Hill)
The Memorial Gates are a war memorial located at the Hyde Park Corner end of Constitution Hill in London, UK. Also known as the Commonwealth Memorial Gates, they commemorate the armed forces of the British Empire from five regions of the Indian subcontinent , as well as Africa and the Caribbean,...
.
There are other streets called 'Constitution Hill', for example in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.