The name given to the
lake in London's
Hyde Park, formed when the
Tyburn River was
dammed in early Victorian times.
Amusing although only tenuously related anecdote:
I used to work at a company whose offices backed on to another London
park, St. James's Park. I also used to smoke, and so I'd often be standing
outside the office having a quick fag. Being situated a mere stone's throw
from the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace,
getting asked directions by tourists was an occupational hazard. However
I'll never forget the smartly-dressed Australian with whom I had the
following conversation:
Aussie: Can you tell me the way to the park?
Me: (pointing at big green grassy thing on the other side of the road) Yes, it's over there.
Aussie: That's the park with the lake in it?
Me: Yes (because there's a very beautiful and famous lake in St. James's Park)
Aussie: And there's a bridge over that lake?
Me: (a little bit worried now) errr ... yes.
Aussie: Good on ya mate! Now can I can go and stand on the bridge over the turpentine.
And on that note, he wandered off. To this day I haven't got a clue what he
was on about...