Marble Arch

Marble Arch was designed by John Nash in 1828. Built of white Carrara marble, the design was taken from the triumphal arch of Constantine in Rome. It was erected to form a grand gateway to Buckingham Palace. When Queen Victoria and Prince Albert decided to enlarge the palace in 1851, room was made for the extension by removing the vast arch, which then became an entrance to Hyde Park.

The upper part of the arch has been used as a place for police surveillance. During a riot in 1855 the crowd were brought to order by a body of police, who emerged from the arch taking the demonstrators by surprise.

The area in which Marble Arch now stands was known as Tyburn, the site of the three-legged gallows, a place of public execution, where crowds gathered to witness the gruesome sight.

At Hyde Park corner, people still gather today at what is known as Speakers Corner, but happily for a less macabre reason. On Sunday afternoons speakers and hecklers assemble to debate a variety of topics.

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