Sydney Gardens
| Sydney Gardens | |
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The Kennet & Avon Canal bridges within the park
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| Location | Bath, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51°23′10″N 2°21′00″W / 51.3862°N 2.3499°WCoordinates: 51°23′10″N 2°21′00″W / 51.3862°N 2.3499°W |
| Area | 4 hectares (9.9 acres) |
| Created | 1792 |
| Operated by | Bath & North East Somerset Council |
| Open | All year |
Sydney Gardens (originally known as Bath Vauxhall Gardens) is a public open space at the end of Great Pulteney Street in Bath, Somerset, England. The gardens are the only remaining eighteenth-century pleasure gardens (or Vauxhall) in the country. They are Grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England.
The gardens were laid out in the 1790s, to plans by Thomas Baldwin which were completed by Charles Harcourt Masters, as a commercial pleasure garden with a variety of attractions. Features included a maze, grotto, sham castle and an artificial rural scene with moving figures powered by a clockwork mechanism. Events included promenades and public breakfasts which were attended by Jane Austen among others. It was also the venue for an annual flower show. The layout was affected by the construction of the Kennet & Avon Canal in 1810 and the Great Western Railway in 1840 which pass through the park. The gardens later fell into decline. In 1908 the site was bought by the local council and reopened as a park. Since 2015 work has been undertaken to improve the environment of the park and provide additional attractions for visitors.
The Sydney Hotel, which was built with the gardens, was the centre for entertainment. It is now the Holburne Museum. Other structures including the walls and bridges connected with the canal and railway are listed buildings along with small buildings now known as the pavilion and Minerva's temple and the public conveniences.
The gardens were constructed in the 1790s opening in 1795 as a commercial pleasure grounds, following the development of Bathwick by Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet, across the River Avon from the city centre. It was funded by selling £100 shares. The original plans were by Thomas Baldwin and completed by Charles Harcourt Masters who included a maze or labyrinth, grotto, sham castle and an artificial rural scene with moving figures powered by a clockwork mechanism. The gardens were illuminated by over 15,000 "variegated lamps".
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