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St. James's Park has changed considerably in the 500 years or so since it came into existence. In its earliest form, it contained a hospital for women with leprosy, in addition to being the site of woods, swampland and farms. In 1536, Henry VIII made the decision to turn it into a deer park. He promptly bought some land in the park for a hunting lodge. This hunting lodge later became known as St. James's Palace.
In 1603, King James I restructured the park, draining the swampland and having the area landscaped. James I had numerous animals housed in the park, such as elephants, camels, as well as exotic birds. In 1660, King Charles II redesigned the park yet again. This was especially one to accommodate a French game known as Pelle Melle, in which the object of the game was to maneuver balls through a hoop using a mallet.
1664 was a notable year for the park, in which a Russian ambassador gave Charles II a pelican as a gift. To this day, pelicans can be found at the park, as they are still being given as gifts from foreign ambassadors. In the 1820s, George IV commissioned John Nash to redesign the park in a more naturalistic style, a style that the park still maintains. - Originally known as Marylebone Park, John Nash redesigned the park from its roots as a royal chase to a more refined landscape. The park took on a rounded look that included surrounding villas, terraces, a canal and a lake. In the 1930s, the Queen Mary's Gardens became one of the more prominent additions.
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In 1536, Henry VIII got Hyde Park from the Westminster Abbey monks. He used the park as a private deer hunting area. Indeed, it remained mostly private until the reign of Charles I, who opened the park to the general public in 1637.
In subsequent centuries, the park has become known as a venue for national celebrations, as well as a place for freedom of speech. One area of the park, known as Speaker's Corner, is where people from many different backgrounds talk about whatever subjects they want to in front of the park-goers.
