Victoria here, telling you about how Kristine and I began our visit to the Battlefield of Waterloo in June 2010. We took the Eurostar from London to Brussels, an easy trip. After we checked into the Hotel Bedford (note very British name), our bus took us to Evere Cemetery, where we walked to the British Waterloo Monument, a huge memorial set atop a crypt.
It was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1870, said to be the “first to honor the dead of a campaign, as opposed to the many memorials that commemorate a victory.” Seventeen officers remains are buried here. It was dedicated in 1890.
Col. Sir William Howe de Lancey and Lt. Col. the Hon Sir Alexander Gordon, ADC to the Duke of Wellington, are the highest ranking men buried here.
The pictures above and below were taken in the fall, with fewer leafy trees in the way.
Above you can see the door leading into the crypt. This was reached via very steep steps leading down from the lawn surrounding the monument.
The monument was designed by Belgian sculptor Count J. De Lalaing, whose talent is obvious in the life-like representations of the lions guarding the tombs and the way the fabric seems to flow as it drapes the tomb.
The inscription reads: “In memory of the British officers non-commissioned officers and men who fell during the Waterloo Campaign in 1815 and whose remains were transferred to this cemetery in 1889. This monument is erected by Her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria, Empress of India, and by their countrymen on a site generously presented by the City of Brussels.”
In 1815, this park in the upper town in Brussels would have been full of British and Allied soldiers. In fact, it is the very park through which the diarist Creevey used to pursue the Duke of Wellington in hopes of gaining some news of the expected battle. Time and again, the Duke confounded Creevey with his nonchalance about upcoming events and his apparently carefree attitude, prompting Creevey to write that he thought the Duke must be either mad or drunk. It never occurred to Creevey that the Duke wouldn’t dare tell him anything, as Creevey was well kno
wn to be a gossip who simply couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
A few years later, in 1830, some of the fighting for Belgium’s independence from the Netherlands took place here in this lovely park.
Above is what we saw of the Duke of Wellington’s Headquarters in Brussells which was undergoing renovations during our visit. We couldn’t get a clue as to what the building looked like — unless it was a twin of the building on the left.
The two above photos above show the City Hall in the Grand Place in Brussels. Below is an image from the web which show’s the building’s location within the Plaza.
The entire Grand Place is surrounded by elegant buildings and filled with strollers and tourists rubber-necking at their baroque splendor.
Although we visited the site of the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball, it now contains an ordinary office building and I didn’t even bother to take a picture. The painting above hangs at Goodwood House, country home of the Dukes of Richmond.
Unfortunately, the modern world has obscured many of the features of the city from the 18th and early 19th centuries, but we were certainly thrilled to have stood in these places and to cast our minds’ eye back to what it must have been like in 1815.
by Guest Blogger Ahmed Al-Ansari
From the 13th to the 21st June 2015 the nation celebrates National Picnic Week! For those busy working or who live in one of the many high rise apartments in the city we have compiled a list of the top green spaces that you can enjoy while on a lunch break, day out or simply a stroll.
We have even gone to the trouble of listing the closest tube station to show how easy it is to reach these fantastic communal parks.
Image Source: www.royalparks.org.uk
The Green Park
Closest Tube Station: Green Park or Hyde Park Corner
Green Park is one of the smallest royal parks in the city centre with just 40 acres. It lies next to Buckingham Palace and is a popular location for picnics.
This park opened to the public in 1826, previous to then it was an enclosed area used as a hunting ground by King Charles II.
Although the area is smaller and has just one kiosk for refreshments the location is so central it is perfect for those wanting to take part in the ‘Picnic Week’ during a lunch hour with use of some very British striped deck chairs for hire.
Hampstead Heath
Closest Tube Station: Golders Green, Hampstead Heath or Kentish Town
‘The Heath’ as it is known is one of the oldest areas of common land in London dating back to 986 and it is even mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086.
This open space, although much smaller than back in the 9thCentury, encompasses 790 acres of land, with a zoo, athletics track, education centre, and three free swimming pools and a Lido!
If you are not the sporty type the park offers one of the best views of London standing at one of the highest points in the city.
The Heath also has a recognised status as one of London’s best places for wildlife.
Queens Park
Closest Tube Station: Queen’s Park
Queens Park, named after Queen Victoria in 1887, is also a registered charity.
The 12 hectares of space, although far smaller than the likes of Hampstead Heath, provide a green space in one of London’s most densely populated areas.
The park includes a tennis court, pitch and putt course, ornamental garden, paddling pool, small zoo and café.
 |
|
Image source: www.gardenvisit.com
|
St Dunstan in the East
Closest Tube Station: Monument or Tower Hill
This popular space was opened as a garden in the 1970’s, one of the more recent additions to London’s green spaces. Originally the Church of St Dunstan stood on the area but after damage from the Great Fire of London and the Blitz in 1941 the church went into disrepair and in 1967 it was decided that the ruins would be used as a garden area.
Those with green fingers will really appreciate this green space, rich with flowers webbing through the ruins.
 |
|
Image Source: www.royalparks.org.uk
|
Hyde Park
Closest Tube Station: Lancaster Gate and Marble Arch
This is London’s biggest royal park at 350 acres which equates to approx. 1.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. The park once owed by King Henry VIII was opened to the public in the 1600’s but during that time only very high class members of society were allowed to enter the parks enclosures.
It is the home to landmarks including Serpentine Lake, Speakers Corner and Diana, Princes of Wakes Memorial Fountain, but what it is perhaps best known for in recent times is as a popular location for mass demonstrations, the Christmas Winter Wonderland and live music events.
The park also offers a volunteer run electric buggy service. ‘Liberty Drives’ are small sightseeing buggies driven by volunteers around the parks which do not charge a fare, but ask for a donation.
Author Bio: Ahmed Al-Ansari, Media Manager at Morgan Pryce, commercial property agents in London
