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IOI 
and those of Mr. Pritchard to this undertaking, which he is 
determined to carry on with that spirit and attention that will 
secure him a share of their favours’”” He adds, ‘‘ A complete 
Bowling Green is provided,’ and ‘‘ A Commodious Coffee- 
Room. Is open’d near the entrance to the Gardens, where 
every attention will be paid to render it an agreeable resort 
to respectable Tradesmen.’ The reference to tradesmen 
indicates clearly how far the patronage of the Gardens had by 
this date (1795) decayed. Endeavours to revivify them proved 
futile, and after a career which most intimately identifies 
them with the golden age of Bath ; as far as I can ascertain, 
Spring-Gardens finally closed as a public pleasure resort on 
September 12th, 1796. 
Always restricted as to area, the limit of their extent in a 
north-east direction is probably the garden at the rear of 
No. 73, Pulteney Street. The site of the Gardens themselves 
is now practically covered by the houses and gardens of 
Johnson Street. 
It is certainly erroneous to locate at Spring-Gardens, as has 
so frequently been done, the much discussed grotto, im- 
mortalised by Sheridan. Mr. Emanuel Green has cleariy 
identified the small building at the end of the North Parade, 
with the ‘‘ moss cover’d grotto of stone’”’ ‘“‘ where Delia 
reclin’d.” Within sight of Spring Gardens, in a secluded part 
of Harrison’s, or as then known, Gyde’s Gardens, the grotto 
was conveniently placed for lovers’ meetings ; in Sheridan’s 
time being accessible from the Terrace Walks through the 
gardens, or from the South Parade by way of White Hall 
Stairs. 

Contemporary with Spring-Gardens was the resort known 
as King James’s Palace, in Lyncombe Vale, about one mile 
from Bath. These gardens have peculiar interest from their 
name, and their connection with a mineral spring. According 
to tradition James II., after his abdication, resided in this 
secluded combe for some time previous to leaving England. - 
This may be dismissed as untenable, but the attribution to 
James may have a not uncertain basis. Mary Beatrice of 
Modena, Consort of James IJ., made a long visit to Bath in 
1687, and the King then spent a considerable time here. 
A numerous Court accompanied the Queen during her stay, 
which proved the most enjoyable time she spent in England. 
