Royal Surrey Gardens facts for kids

Charles Spurgeon preaching to a packed Surrey Music Hall in 1858

The Royal Surrey Gardens were a famous place for fun and entertainment in London during the Victorian era. They were located in an area called Newington, not far from The Oval cricket ground. These gardens were huge, covering about 15 acres (that's like 11 football fields!). They even had a large lake that was about 3 acres big.

This special spot was once home to two exciting places: the Surrey Zoological Gardens (a zoo!) and the Surrey Music Hall (a place for shows and concerts).

How the Gardens Started

The land where the gardens stood used to be part of a big manor house in Walworth. In 1831, a clever showman named Edward Cross bought the land. He wanted to create a new zoo there, called the Surrey Zoological Gardens. He moved his animals from another place he owned to this new location. He was even competing with the new London Zoo in Regent's Park!

A really cool building was built in the gardens. It was a huge, round glass building, about 300 feet around, with more than 6,000 square feet of glass! Inside this amazing conservatory, you could see different animals like lions, tigers, a rhinoceros, and even giraffes. The gardens themselves were filled with many beautiful trees and plants, and had charming little buildings dotted around.

Fun and Shows at the Gardens

Surrey Gardens in 1850

From 1837 onwards, the Royal Surrey Gardens became famous for big public shows. Imagine seeing amazing re-enactments of huge events! They would recreate things like the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (a famous volcano), the Great Fire of London, or even a battle called the storming of Badajoz. They used giant painted backdrops, some as tall as 80 feet, and put on spectacular firework displays. These kinds of shows were very popular, just like at the older Vauxhall Gardens.

Later, the gardens also hosted "promenade concerts." These were concerts where people could walk around and enjoy the music. However, the gardens faced tough competition when the amazing Great Exhibition opened at the Crystal Palace in 1851.

Images for kids

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  Surrey Music Hall around 1858

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  Surrey Gardens in 1842

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  Charles Spurgeon preaching in a packed Surrey Music Hall in around 1858.

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  Surrey Gardens in 1850