Key

Steel key with a solid oval shaped bow with a crowned 'VR HP Pleasure Gardens' inscribed on the obverse and 'Lady Georgiana Stuart Wortley' 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 Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Ryder, wife of John Stuart-Wortley, 2nd Baron Wharncliffe, a Tory politician. Married in 1825, they had five children. Lord Wharncliffe died 22 October 1855 and it is likely the key dates before this time, as afterwards she was referred to as Dowager Lady Wharncliffe.