Was the seat of the lord chancellor Finch, afterwards earl of Nottingham, and was afterwards purchased by king William, who greatly improved it by causing a royal road to be made to it, through St. James's and Hyde Parks. Queen Mary enlarged the gardens: her sister, queen Anne, improved what Mary had begun: but queen Caroline completed the design by extending the gardens, and by bringing into them what is called the Serpentine River. These gardens are three miles and a half, in circumference, are kept in great order, and in summer-time form, together with Hyde Park, a place of fashionable resort. The building has no pretensions to grandeur, and is very irregular in regard to architecture; yet it possesses some good rooms, and a few excellent pictures.--The Duke of SUSSEX, so well known and so universally respected for his active benevolence, at present resides in this palace; and the Princess of Wales possessed apartments here.
Source: Leigh's New Picture of London. Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand;
by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819