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which measures to acres) adjoining the East end of Great 
Pulteney-street.”” The following week appears “ We are 
authorized to say that the Plan for a new Vauxhall in the 
Centre of Sidney-Place is approved of by Miss Pulteney, and 
will be carried into immediate execution.” 
I can find no further reference till the 13th of October, 1792, 
when the Herald and Register mentions that ‘‘ On Tuesday the 
subscribers to Sidney-gardens met at the White Lion Inn, and 
resolved to proceed on this magnificent plan immediately ; 
every share was filled, the first deposit made, and Messrs. 
Cross, Bayley & Co. (Bath City Bank) were unanimously 
appointed treasurers.’ The appointment of Cross, Bayley 
and Co., as treasurers, was disastrous ; their failure in April, 
1793, involved the scheme in financial difficulties, and ham- 
pered somewhat the carrying out of the project. Despite 
this however, the construction of the garden was proceeded 
with, and a contemporary manuscript notes: “Sep. 19, 
1793: the first tree planted in the Sydney-Garden.” 
After the collapse of the Bath City Bank, the undertaking 
was financed by the Bladud Bank, then carrying on business 
in Old Bond Street. 
The architect of the scheme was Charles Harcourt Masters, 
a native of Bath. His survey of the City, published January 
Ist, 1795, shews very clearly the Garden as planned and 
carried out. The hotel, bowling greens, labyrinth, etc., then 
occupied the whole of the area, an irregular hexagon as to 
shape (much of which has since been converted to private 
use) bounded by the present main roads. 
The Chronicle, on July 23rd, 1794, advertised a general 
meeting of Subscribers to the ‘‘ New Intended Vauxhall and 
Ranelagh Gardens, New Town, Bath,” to be held on the 4th 
of August following, at Spring-Gardens. 
After this meeting, the project was rapidly carried through, 
for on April gth, 1795, it was announced that ‘‘ Sydney Garden, 
Vauxhall, Will be ready for the entertainment of the Publick 
on Monday the 4th May. Persons desirous of taking the said 
Garden until Christmas next are requested to send in their 
proposals sealed, to Mr. C. Masters, architect, or to Mr. J. 
Clark, Bathwick.—The Proposals will be opened on Monday 
the 13th of April, and the person who makes the highest offer, 
if thought eligible by the Committee shall be put in immediate 
possession of the Garden for the said time. 
N.B.—The above Garden was opened for Walking only on 
