Key

Steel key with a solid oval shaped bow with a crowned 'VR Hyde Park Pleasure Gardens No 205' inscribed on the obverse and 'Lady Elizth Lascelles 26 Curzon St 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 one is numbered 52 and belonged to John William Henry Dalrymple, 7th Earl of Stair (16 November 1784 – 22 March 1840) . The Earl incurred great scandal over his complicated marital life.

This key was issued to Lady Elizabeth Joanna de Burgh (22 February 1826-26 February 1854) who married Henry Thynne Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood in 1845. Her married name became Lascalles. They had six children together before she died age 28.