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Vauxhall Gardens The Premier pleasure gardens of the eighteenth century. They had been opened by Sir Samuel Morland in 1660's and known as the "Spring Garden". They were developed by a new owner in the 1720's with several new walks added and tree lined avenues planted, abounding with statues, gravel walks, buildings and paintings. From the 1730's the cost of admission was rather expensive, a shilling. In 1742 it received compeition from that other great Garden entertainment - Ranelagh. Ranelagh was generally considered to be the more refined of the two venues, but this didn't stop Vauxhall from continuing to attract crowds well into the nineteenth century. It was finally sold and the land built over in 1859. Vauxhall in 1779, The Duchess of Devonshire and her sister, Lady Duncannon are central to the left in this picture. Many other well known society figures including the Prince of Wales and "Perdita" are depicted. The picture is few years beyond "The Convenient Marriage" but the structure of the Gardens would be very similar with a singer and orchestra in the balcony to the left Vauxhall in 1751 - the aerial view gives perspective of the large plantings and avenues for people to wander along. Vauxhall in 1750 Vauxhall in 1809 - the gardens were partly redesigned the following year. This quote is from Joseph Ballard's diary published as "England in 1815." At 11:00 the nobility and fashionables began to enter, when there was a grand display of dress, for most all who are here appear in full dress. . . . . At two o'clock the party to which I belonged left the garden, as the dances had begun, this being the signal for the departure of respectable ladies."