Editing Richmond Park (section)

====James Thomson and Poet's Corner====
[[File:Ian Dury-Memorial Bench.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ian Dury]] [[memorial bench]]]]
Poet's Corner, an area at the north end of Pembroke Lodge Gardens, commemorates the poet  [[James Thomson (poet, born 1700)|James Thomson]] (1700–1748), who was living in Richmond at the time of his death. A curved metal bench inscribed with lines by Thomson and known as ''Poet's Seat'' is located there. Sculpted by Richard Farrington, it was based on an idea by Jane Fowles.<ref name="Farrington">{{cite web | url=http://www.richardfarrington.com/seats_richmond.htm | title=Richmond&nbsp;– Poet's Seat | publisher=Richard Farrington: Sculptor | access-date=28 February 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042022/http://www.richardfarrington.com/seats_richmond.htm | archive-date=4 March 2016 | df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Monuments">{{cite web | url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/press-and-media/factsheets-on-the-royal-parks/monuments/monuments-in-richmond-park | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511191959/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/press/factsheets-on-the-royal-parks/monuments/monuments-in-richmond-park |archive-date=11 May 2012 | title=Monuments in Richmond Park | publisher=[[The Royal Parks]] | access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref>

A wooden memorial plaque with an [[ode]] to Thomson by the writer and historian [[John Heneage Jesse]] was formerly located near Pembroke Lodge stables, where it was installed in 1851. The plaque was replaced by the [[Selborne Society]] in 1895.<ref name="Monuments"/>

In 2014 Poet's Corner was re-sited to the other side of the main path and the ode, on a re-gilded board, was installed in a completely new oak frame. The new Poet's Corner, funded by the Friends of Richmond Park and the Visitor Centre at Pembroke Lodge, and by a donation in memory of Wendy Vachell, also includes three curved benches made from reclaimed [[teak]]. The benches are inscribed with a couplet by the Welsh poet [[W. H. Davies]], "A poor life this, if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare".<ref name="New Poet's Corner">{{cite journal | title=New Poet's Corner | journal=Friends of Richmond Park Newsletter |date=Autumn 2014 | page=6}}</ref>

Benches, also sculpted by Richard Farrrington,<ref name="Farrington"/> at King Henry's Mound are inscribed with a few lines from  [[The Seasons (Thomson)|Thomson's poem "The Seasons"]].<ref name="Monuments"/>

Poet's Corner is linked to King Henry's Mound by the John Beer Laburnum Arch, named after one of Pembroke Lodge Gardens' former charge-hands. The arch has a display of yellow [[laburnum]] flowers in May.<ref name="FRP Guide73">{{cite book | title=''"Gardens" in'' Guide to Richmond Park | author=Jo Scrivener|publisher=[[Friends of Richmond Park]] | year=2011 | page=73|isbn=978-0-9567469-0-0}}</ref>