Cremorne Gardens, London facts for kids

Cremorne Gardens were exciting pleasure gardens located by the River Thames in Chelsea, London. They were a very popular place for entertainment between 1845 and 1877. Today, only a small part of the gardens remains near the river, at the end of Cheyne Walk. The area around where the gardens once stood is now a local government area called a "ward" within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In 2011, about 7,974 people lived in this ward.

History of Cremorne Gardens

The land where Cremorne Gardens were built originally belonged to the Earl of Huntingdon around 1750. Over time, it was owned by different people. Eventually, it came into the hands of Thomas Dawson, 1st Viscount Cremorne, an Irish nobleman. He made the gardens very beautiful.

The name "Cremorne" comes from an old administrative area in County Monaghan, Ireland. It's an English version of an Irish name, Críoch Mhúrn, which means 'Bounds of Mourne'. This name is linked to an ancient clan and also to the Mourne Mountains.

From Private Estate to Public Fun Spot

In 1831, the Dawson family sold the property to a man named Charles Random. He turned the site into a sports area called The Stadium. His business didn't do well, but he did add some fun attractions, like hot air balloon ascents. In 1838, a balloon even took off from the gardens!

The property was sold again in 1845 to James Ellis. He transformed the twelve-acre site into a large and popular entertainment venue. From 1845 to 1877, Cremorne Gardens was a lively place. It had restaurants, shows, dancing, and more balloon ascents. Visitors could enter from the King's Road or by boat at Cremorne Pier on the river.

Amazing Performances and Art

Cremorne Gardens was known for its exciting shows. For example, in 1861, a famous tightrope walker known as The Female Blondin tried to cross the Thames River on a tightrope. She walked from Battersea Bridge to Cremorne Gardens, and about 20,000 people watched her! Another tightrope walker, Carlo Valerio, sadly died during a demonstration there.

The famous artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler lived nearby and painted several pictures of Cremorne Gardens between 1872 and 1877. His paintings often showed the gardens at night, with their bright lights and fashionable crowds. Two of his famous paintings, Nocturne in Black and Gold: the Firewheel and Nocturne in Black and Gold: the Falling Rocket, were inspired by the gardens. One of these paintings even led to a famous court case between Whistler and art critic John Ruskin.

Walter Greaves, a local artist, also painted the gardens. He and his brother Harry were assistants to Whistler. Greaves often painted the Crystal Platform at Cremorne Gardens. This platform was a beautiful structure with ironwork, colored glass, and many gas jets and mirrors. It had an orchestra playing in the upper part, lit by many chandeliers. Greaves' paintings show Whistler as a stylish observer, watching the lively crowds at the gardens.

Why Cremorne Gardens Closed

Whistler and the Greaves family often visited the gardens before they closed in 1877. Cremorne Gardens never became as famous as Vauxhall Gardens. Over time, some people living nearby found the gardens too noisy and annoying. Because of their complaints, the gardens' license was not renewed, and most of the land was soon used for new buildings. The name "Cremorne" still lives on in Cremorne Road.

Cremorne Gardens Today

A small part of the original gardens still exists today next to the Thames, near Lots Road Power Station. It's mostly paved, so it doesn't look like the grand gardens it once was. However, it still has two jetties, which remind us of the landing stages where visitors used to arrive by boat. One of the original large iron gates from the gardens has been restored and stands at the site today.

There was also another Cremorne Gardens established in Melbourne, Australia.

Protecting the Green Space

In 2010, Cremorne Gardens received a Green Flag award, recognizing it as one of the best green spaces in England.

The gardens have faced threats from building projects. In 2010, Thames Water suggested using part of Cremorne Gardens for an access road to build the Thames Tideway super sewer. Local residents and councillors worked hard to protect the gardens. An alternative site, the former Lots Road Waste Centre, was suggested.

In 2014, the gardens were again threatened when there was a proposal to build a Crossrail Two station on the site of the Cremorne Estate, which would have destroyed the gardens. After many residents protested, the council stopped supporting this plan.

Cremorne Gardens in Books

Cremorne Gardens has appeared in several books:

• In Strong Poison, a mystery novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, a character named Cremorna Garden was an actress, likely named after the gardens' lively reputation.
• In Coral by Compton Mackenzie (1925), the main characters declare their love for each other near the Cremorne Arms at Chelsea reach.
• The gardens are an important setting in the novel A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett (1993).
• Cremorne Gardens also features prominently in the novel Garden of Sins by Laura Joh Rowland (2022).

Images for kids

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  The Female Blondin crossing the Thames to Cremorne Gardens in 1861.