The Prehistoric Secret Hiding In Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park is full of lovely gardens, lakes and flower beds. It also has plenty of interesting historical sights to seek out such as grand Regency villas and statuesque fountains.

However, not many people know that it also has a prehistoric gem, hiding in plain sight.

At the intersection of two paths, within the Inner Circle, by the waterfall you’ll see these unassuming tree stumps.

They are in fact 20-100 million year old fossilised tree trunks!

But, why are they here? The story takes us back to the park’s origins…

The History Of Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park, along with the areas now occupied by Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, was appropriated by King Henry VIII as royal hunting ground.

It was known, at this time, as Marylebone Park and was used as a hunting chase until 1646. After this point it was used for hay and dairy production.

The area was then developed and landscaped in the 1810s and 1820s by architect John Nash. It was originally intended as a pleasure ground for the aristocracy and royal family. The Prince Regent, who was ruling in place of ‘mad’ King George III, was at first an enthusiastic patron of the scheme and the park is therefore named after him.

The plan was for the centrepiece of the park to be a brand new palace for the Prince Regent. A grand promenade would then lead through the city from here to his residence at the time, Carlton House, by St James’s Park i.e. Regent Street.

The Prince Regent’s enthusiasm waned however as he focussed more on improving Buckingham Palace instead. The palace in the park was never built and the land, today known as the Inner Circle, had no grand use as intended.

The Royal Botanic Society

In 1828 the Zoological Society of London, who already leased a portion of the park to the North, established the London zoo.

The Royal Botanic Society leased the land in the Inner Circle in 1839.

The Society’s aim was to ‘promote botany in all its branches’. Members of the society and friends could see special gardens with plants from all over the world, grouped by origin. It opened to the public in 1846. For a few years it was known as ‘Jenkin’s nursery’ as you can see on the map above.

The circle also contained a lawn, a lake, a museum, nursery and conservatory designed by Decimus Burton (1800-1881). Four horticultural shows were held each year here that became very popular with the well-to-do of London.

The Royal Botanic Society was based here until 1932 when they could not afford to renew the lease and the society was dissolved.

Sadly the conservatory was demolished and many of the buildings lost in the Second World War.

The Fossilised Tree Trunks

It was the Royal Botanic Society that brought the fossilised tree trunks here to display and study.

They are thought to likely be from coniferous trees laid down in Lower Purbeck in Dorset.

There is also a theory that one of the trunks could be a close relative of the monkey puzzle tree, a primitive tree species still around today.

Queen Mary’s Gardens, named after the Queen and wife of George V, opened to the public on the same spot in 1932.

I can’t find whether they were donated, gifted, bought or just simply left by the Society but nevertheless they’re still there! Frequently overlooked but definitely a historical gem.

More of London’s historical gems and my suggested walks below!