Skipping or any other playful activity was strictly forbidden in the Royal Parks without prior ‘authorisation’. Victoria Park lies on the Thames near Westminster where park rules were stringently enforced as one family discovered to their cost.
“Whitsuntide frolics.–At Worship-street police-court on Tuesday John Turner and Selina Turner, man and wife, were charged before Mr. Bushby with skipping in Victoria-park. Selina Turner was further charged with assaulting two of the park constables. The evidence showed that about 5 o’clock on the previous afternoon the prisoners and several others were skipping with a rope in the open portion of Victoria-park. The officers went up, and after requesting the skippers to desist took John Turner into custody. On the way to the station Selina Turner caught hold of one of the constables by the whiskers, and kicked the other. At the station door she was taken into custody. In answer to the charge the prisoners indignantly denied that they were doing any wrong by skipping in the park. Selina Turner did not assault the officers, who used John Turner very roughly. The officers admitted that the male prisoner was not turning the rope when apprehended. Mr. Bushby said by the schedule of the Act under which charge was laid (Royal Parks and Gardens Act) it was enacted that no person should play any game in the parks except in accordance with the rules of the park, and the rules of the park said that no “unauthorised” person should play any game. The male prisoner had rendered himself liable to a penalty of 5l., and Selina Turner for obstructing the officers to 20l. fine. However, he fined the man only 5s. or seven days, and the woman 20s. or 14 days.”
Stamford Mercury, 6th June, 1873.