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received the attention they undoubtedly merit. The first 
public intimation of the project was early in June, 1791, 
when “‘ All those healthy and desirable meadows, situate on the 
East side of the London Road, between the Turnpike and 
Lambridge.—are (advertised) to Lett for Ever on Building 
Leases.—the centre of the Meadows to be laid out as Pleasure 
Gardens.” 
On the 24th of June, 1791, the foundation stone of an Hotel 
to be known as Grosvenor House, Vauxhall, was laid, and the 
scheme pushed forward with such energy that on May 12th, 
1792, the Herald notes “ The annals of horticulture cannot 
produce an instance of so rapid a change from a common 
grass field to a luxuriant, highly cultivated spot, as is now 
displayed in Grosvenor Gardens. It is scarcely one year 
since the plan was first proposed, and in that time a row of 
elegant buildings has been erected ; a complete garden has 
been made.—spacious walks well gravelled have been formed, 
and the whole of a plan; so admirably projected, brought 
to such a state of forwardness, as to claim the admiration and 
wonder of the numerous companies who daily frequent it. 
Nothing but the greatest success can attend exertions so 
deserving the public patronage.” The friendly writer of the 
last sentence was unfortunately wrong. The general scheme 
was financed by the Bath City Bank, whose failure early in 
1793 completely wrecked the plans and the fortune of Eveleigh, 
and in November, 1793, the Gardens were sold by auction. 
Revived a little later as a pleasure resort on a more modest 
scale, they for a few years enjoyed considerable popularity. 
In connection with these Gardens, Proprietors Tickets were 
intended to be issued, but I cannot ascertain that this intention 
was ever carried out, and, consequently, beyond a_ passing 
notice, the Grosvenor Garde1s do not come within my present 
scope. 

Of the open-air pleasure resorts of this period the last to 
be established was the Sydney Garden, which founded on 
far more ambitious lines than any of its predecessors is still in 
existence. In connection with this Garden, two metal tickets 
were issued, one of copper, the other of silver. 
The first intimation of the intention to create this pleasure 
resort is given in the Chronicle of June 16th, 1791: ‘‘ We hear 
that a plan is drawn for a New Vauxhall upon a very extensive 
plan; it is to be in the centre of Sidney-place (the area of 

