Historic Hyde Park Hyde Park in London, Ontario was named after a 350-acre historic urban park in Westminster, Greater London, U.K.. A Royal Park, it is the largest of the parks and green spaces that form a chain from Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, past Buckingham Palace to St. James’s Park. Hyde Park is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water lakes. The park was established by King Henry VIII in 1536 when he took the land from Westminster Abbey and used it as a hunting ground. It opened to the public by King Charles I in 1637 and quickly became popular, particularly for May Day parades. Hyde Park was a popular duelling spot during the 18th century, with 172 duels taking place, resulting in 63 deaths. There’s nothing quite like gathering around a crackling fire, sharing laughs, and indulging in the nostalgic tradition of roasting marshmallows. But who says s’mores have to be just for kids? At Brock Manor, we’ve taken this fireside classic to a whole new level, crafting gourmet “adult s’mores” that blend sweet, savory, and a touch of sophistication. It was the venue for several Royal jubilees and celebrations. Queen Victoria (born May 24, 1819) opened the Crystal Palce exhibition there on May 1, 1851. For her Golden Jubilee in 1887, a party was organized on June 22, where around 26,000 school children were given a free meal. In her final years, Queen Victoria visited the park often. As part of the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, a Jubilee Exhibition was set up, with the Queen and Prince Philip visiting on June 30. Early immigration to Hyde Park, Ontario, began around 1818, when Thomas Routledge (1763-1844), his wife Margaret and their nine children arrived from Cumberland, England. They named their new home Hyde Park. Start with a black pepper Triscuit cracker and a cube of brie cheese. Roast the brie just like a traditional marshmallow until it’s warm and gooey. Place it on your cracker, drizzle with a bit of hot honey (you can make your own or try Mike’s Hot Honey or Peace River for a kick), add a slice of prosciutto, and top with another Triscuit. The creamy brie, spicy honey, and salty prosciutto create a perfect balance of flavors that will have you reaching for seconds. Babybel & Red Pepper Jelly Sensation Hyde Park was a quiet intersection until the coming of the railway in 1854, bring- ing land speculation, with many of the farms subdivided into village lots. With additional railway lines established in 1875 and 1888, Hyde Park was trans- formed into a business centre. For this one, start with a water cracker and roast a Babybel cheese over the fire until it’s golden and melty. Once it’s ready, place it on the cracker, top with a spoonful of red pepper jelly, and sandwich it with another cracker. The combination of the mild, creamy cheese with the sweet and tangy jelly is a game-changer. And for those with a sweet tooth? Try roasting a marshmallow and dipping it in salted caramel Baileys for a decadent, boozy twist! These elevated s’mores aren’t just a fun treat—they also make for an unexpected and impressive hors d’oeuvre at your next backyard gathering. So the next time you light up a fire, get creative, experiment with different cheeses, sauces, and toppings, and turn your campfire into a gourmet experience. From all of us at the Hyde Park-Oakridge Villager Information from Wikipedia. Elevate Your Campfire with Adult S’mores by Adam Brock NLDC performs 2024 Winterlude The students of North London Dance Centre (NLDC) performed across four shows at the Wolf Performance Hall on Sunday, December 15th. “What an amazing whirlwind it was!” exclaimed Kelly Hajar, Owner/Director. “Hundreds of our talented dancers took the stage to share their love of dance with over a thousand family members and friends – it doesn’t get more magical (or more festive!) than that! From the tiniest toes in Dance Development, to the jaw-dropping talent of our advanced dancers, every performer brought their passion and dedication to life on stage,” said Kelly. Now in their 27th season, North London Dance Centre offers more than 80 classes per week for children and adults at our 1055 Sarnia Road location. Learn more at northlondondancecentre.ca The beauty of these upscale s’mores is in the endless possibilities. By mixing and matching different cheeses, crackers, toppings, and sauces, you can create a truly unique and delicious treat. Here are two of our favorite combinations that have become staples at our campfires: Black Pepper Triscuit & Brie Delight
Back in the Day
The Knotty Pine Restaurant at the corner of Richmond Street and Fanshawe Park Road, 1947. Photo by Ron Nelson.
View looking north along Richmond Street. A row of farm tractors is turning west onto Fanshawe Park Road. On the southwest corner is a service station and the Richie Coffee Shop. On the southeast corner is the Knotty Pine Restaurant. London Animal Care Centre – Licensing, Bylaw Enforcement, Adoption and Lost/Found Services: 121 Pine Valley Blvd., (519) 685-1330 The Catty Shack: 756 Windermere Rd., (519) 432-4572 Adam and Jenn Brock live on Whisperwood Crescent in Byron. Jenn is very creative and loves the outdoors and especially campfires. Their oldest daughter Hannah, who will be graduating in Horticulture this year, got an idea in the spring of 2024 to transform the front yard to include a fire pit. They started the cultivation of hundreds of sunflowers, first in the house and then transferred outside to create a private outdoor space for the family. Your Perfect Match awaits you at The London Animal Care Centre and The Catty Shack! Bringing people and pets together www.accpets.ca C atty S haCk THE This winter, Jenn got the idea to ask their wonderful Byron neighbours for their old Christmas trees. She collected 23 in total and the front yard fire pit oasis was reborn for the winter. J & A Lawn Care EST. 2014 J & A Arbory
The Knotty Pine Restaurant in the early 1960s, At the time, it was considered on the outskirts of London.
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