Key

Steel key with a solid oval shaped bow with a crowned 'VR HP Pleasure Gardens No 8' inscribed on the obverse and 'Le Baron de Cetto Not Transferable' on the reverse. It was used to unlock a private entrance to Hyde Park Pleasure Gardens.

The development of the Grosvenor estate and Knightsbridge in the 18th century created the demand for private access to Hyde Park from wealthy local residents. Many of the grand houses had gardens that backed onto the park. In the 1790s a number of private gates were built in the surrounding wall. The key to each gate was licensed to the individual owner by George III. In 1804 the King refused to allow any more 'private doors' to be built.

Hyde Park was owned by the crown and managed by the Office of Works, a department of the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings. The park was redeveloped in the 1820s by the architect Decimus Burton. Gradually the wall was replaced by iron railings and gates so local residents could see into the park from their homes. An area on the eastern side of the park bordering the Grosvenor estate was enclosed to create a garden.

The privileged few who were granted private access to Hyde Park had to pay for the construction of the gates by the Office of Works. Individually numbered keys were issued by the Office of Works and were non-transferable for security reasons. The keys could only be used within the opening hours determined by the monarch.

This key was issued to August Baron de Cetto (6 September 1794-7 August 1879), a Kingdom of Bavaria diplomat, state councillor and chamberlain. Based in London as a Bavarian envoy from 1821 to 1833, de Cetto was involved in the Treaty of Rome negotiations. After a brief spell as Bavarian envoy at the Imperial Court in Vienna, he again served in London from 1835 until he retired in 1867. Even after retirement, he lived in No.6 Hill Street in Berkeley Square Gardens, taking part in the social life of the metropolis, and still attending receptions at court.