VAUXHALL GARDEN ARCHIVE, c1660-1859 from Lambeth Archives, London

The Vauxhall Gardens Archive provides a wealth of information on many aspects of eighteenth and nineteenth century social life and entertainment.

The Gardens opened in 1660 as a place of entertainment for Londoners on the South bank of the river Thames. An illustration from a plan of 1841, showing the largest of the gardens, is shown overleaf.

This collection brings together a range of primary source documents which will allow us to assess the impact of the Gardens and the cultural history of London, and study the range of entertainments and leisure pursuits as they developed over a period of more than 200 years.

The material includes:

• Press cuttings and Play Bills, c.1732-1859
• Song Books and Music Sheets for Performances, c.1773-1859
• A Journal of Receipts, 1822-1859
• The Surrey Pamphlets
• Important illustrations of the Gardens including plans, sketches and images of a range of entertainments. (68 of these are reproduced in colour.)
• Bound volumes comprising weekly newsletters, background information on the history of the Gardens and additional pamphlets, ephemera, press cuttings and play bills, c.1660-1859

John Evelyn visited the Spring Gardens in July 1661, and Samuel Pepys describes it in his diary on 29 May 1662. There was a spectacular re-opening of the Gardens on 7 June 1732 – the doors were opened at 9pm and tickets were sold at one guinea each.

By the mid 1730s the layout of the Gardens, including the broad tree-lined avenues, was well established. The raised Orchestra building was a cultural feature, enhanced by the installation of a new organ in 1737. The 1738 season opened on 26 April with the issue of a thousand tickets at 24 shillings each. Frederick, the Prince of Wales, became an enthusiastic patron and frequent visitor.

The ‘Dark walks’ at Vauxhall acquired some notoriety during the latter part of the eighteenth century, and in 1763 they were closed by order of the magistrates, though they were re-opened the following year after lighting was provided. The behaviour of those frequenting the gardens was not always what might have been wished for, and in 1773 the Vauxhall Affray attracted much adverse publicity.

Visits by celebrities and members of the aristocracy played an important part in the social life at Vauxhall: the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland on 25 June 1781 attracted some 11,000 visitors; and 1784 saw a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of George Frederick Handel. Rowlandson’s well-known drawings of the Gardens around this time show how many famous personalities visited, including Dr Johnson, James Boswell and Mrs Thrale, the Prince of Wales and James Hook the organist.

Vauxhall Bridge opened in 1816, providing more convenient access to the Gardens, and it was in the same year that the tightrope walker Mme Saqui was engaged to perform at a fee of 100 guineas a week.

Spectacular displays were popular, and a re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo with fireworks and 1,000 horses and foot soldiers was a major attraction in 1827.

The Gardens re-opened yet again in 1845 with twelve MCs and 40,000 lamps and the following year the oil lamps were replaced by gas lighting. 1847 saw the spectacle of a view of Venice with imitation water; and a Grand Venetian Carnival was held in 1849 with 60,000 lamps.

All of these events are well documented in this collection. There is good material on all aspects of social behaviour, from drunkenness and prostitution to high quality musical events and lavish displays.