HISTORIC PARK

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 299, 2 December 1936, Page 2

HISTORIC PARK

MEMORIAL TO KING GEORGE. AND PEACOCKS? At a cost of £11,500 High Wycombe has bought Hughenden Park as a memorial to King George. The land formed part of the manoi* which was the last home of Lord Beaconsfield, and will now become a public park.. The house in which the famous Conservative Prime Minister lived is not part of the transfer, but remains in the possession of the heir. It was the scene of much hospitality in Disraeli’s time, and many were his distinguished visitors, cf both political partes. But even a Prime Minister in his home did not always feel himself secure against violent Intrusion. When Sir William Harcourt and a friend went down for a week-end ■with their great political adversary they were a little awed to be told by him that, although Lady Beaconsfield had left her diamonds in London, he had thought it necessary to arm all the servants with revolvers as a defence against burglars, who had for some time been active in the neighbourhood. Burglars did not, after all, trouble him, but apparently a poacher did. Lady Beaconsfield delighted in peacocks, and the grounds now thrown open were stocked with them in those days. One fine bird vanished, whether to adorn a rival park or to be put in a pie was never known, but the loss was deemed so serious that a guardian was appointed to safeguard the rest of the birds. He was a tiny wide-mouthed boy called the peacock-herd. Equipped with a. portable wooden seat, it was his duty from sunrise to sunset to parade the park, warding the gay birds. He kept his guard in front of the house, ever on the look-out tor intruders