Who coined this well known phrase?
The 'Lungs of London' are said to be the many parks and squares in London, and it conveys the idea of their importance to the well-being of its inhabitants. It was first attributed to William Pitt (1708 – 1778) the Earl of Chatham, by Lord Windham in a speech in the House of Commons on 30 June 1808, during a debate on encroachment of buildings upon Hyde Park.
Windham said "It was a saying of Lord Chatham, that the parks were the lungs of London…"
Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates Vol.11
When first said by Pitt in the 18th century, London was on the brink of a rapid expansion which would gobble-up the villages, commons and fields which surrounded the city. However, it is fortunate that large areas of green space were already Royal Parks and their importance to the health and well-being of the city's inhabitants was recognised.
The 'Lungs of London' are said to be the many parks and squares in London, and it conveys the idea of their importance to the well-being of its inhabitants. It was first attributed to William Pitt (1708 – 1778) the Earl of Chatham, by Lord Windham in a speech in the House of Commons on 30 June 1808, during a debate on encroachment of buildings upon Hyde Park.
Windham said "It was a saying of Lord Chatham, that the parks were the lungs of London…"
Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates Vol.11
When first said by Pitt in the 18th century, London was on the brink of a rapid expansion which would gobble-up the villages, commons and fields which surrounded the city. However, it is fortunate that large areas of green space were already Royal Parks and their importance to the health and well-being of the city's inhabitants was recognised.
At this time the main parks being threatened by the western expansion of the city were Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James's Park. These parks were used for recreation, entertainments, horse riding, and as place to be seen when out walking. They can be seen on this map from 1800 - motoco.com.
During the 19th century, writers, campaigners and politicians found this phrase very useful when championing for inclusion of parks in the planning and building of London and saving green spaces from the developers' grasp.
As the city grew, thankfully many more parks were created including Regents Park, Finsbury Park, Battersea Park and Victoria Park to name a few, and tree-lined squares were incorporated into building developments.
The phrase is now used for almost any city: 'Lungs of Paris', 'Lungs of New York', and there may even be an earlier use of the term still to be found.
During the 19th century, writers, campaigners and politicians found this phrase very useful when championing for inclusion of parks in the planning and building of London and saving green spaces from the developers' grasp.
As the city grew, thankfully many more parks were created including Regents Park, Finsbury Park, Battersea Park and Victoria Park to name a few, and tree-lined squares were incorporated into building developments.
The phrase is now used for almost any city: 'Lungs of Paris', 'Lungs of New York', and there may even be an earlier use of the term still to be found.
