MAY On this day in 1769 was the second great Ridotto al Fresco, following10 a £5,000 refurbishment of the gardens, including a rain-proof awning over the main walks around the Grove. Around ten thousand tickets were sold for this event, at half a guinea each, leading to endless traffic jams on the approaches. Only a few people arrived in ‘character dress’, but many in ‘fancy dress’. MAY On this day in 1764, according to The Gentleman’s Magazine, ‘About 5011 young fellows tore up the railing, and did other damage at Vauxhall in order to lay open the dark walks which Mr. Tyers had very prudently shut up to prevent indecencies so much complained of last summer.’ MAY On this day in 1845 the ‘113th Season’ opened. The Grand Orchestra12 had been remodelled by Mr. Breckell, who installed the new sounding board with its caryatid supporters, and decorated ‘in the most costly style of splendour’ by Mr. Hurwitz. MAY On this day in 1783 was the first appearance of the tenor Daniel Arrowsmith;13 the correspondent of The British Magazine reported that he ‘was received with great applause and encored in every song. He has a fine tenor voice, of great flexibility, extent, and sweetness. He is superior to Cubitt, but we have still to regret the loss of our old friend [Joseph] Vernon. … The company was very numerous, and remarkably genteel. The orchestra and boxes are new painted, and add a pleasant freshness to the garden.’ MAY On this day in 1668 Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary ‘To Fox hall, where14 we walked a great while and pleased mightily with the pleasure thereof and the company there; and then in and eat and drank, and then out again and walked; and it beginning to be dark, we to a Corner and sang, that everybody got about us to hear us; and so home…’ MAY On this day in 1840 was the eighth of eleven auction sales by Mr Hoggart14 following the bankruptcy of Frederick Gye and Richard Hughes; this one disposed of machinery, paintings, an organ, several statues, and paintings, including some ‘by Hogarth and Hayman.’ MAY On this day in 1738 was published in the London Evening Post, no.1638 the15 poem ‘On seeing Miss W—y D—cr—s at Vaux-Hall, dress’d in White’, which began: To thee, Vaux-Hall, sweet Scene of Joy! The Young, the Gay, the Fair, In sable Bands each Ev’ning fly, And bid adieu to care. MAY On this day in 1787 was the opening masquerade of the season. Bands to16 play dance music were advertised as performing in the ‘new Balloon Rooms’, although what or where these were is still a mystery. MAY On this day in 1796, according to The Times newspaper, the planned opening17 of the season had to be postponed due to continuing bad weather. There was a running joke at the time that the opening of Vauxhall Gardens was bound to signal two or three weeks of rain; farmers would always want to know when the opening was planned, so they were certain of a good time to plant their seeds. MAY On this day in 1748 Mr. George Harris visited Vauxhall: ‘Not there before18 for some years past. A new room built there; elegantly adorn’d with lights & sconces &c. – a Rotunda. The finest evening that had been yet this year.’ Just forty two years later, on the same date, it was reported in the press that the Rotunda had been transformed, for the opening of the 1790 season, into a ‘fanciful Persian Pavilion, Elegantly decorated with Trophies’. MAY On this day in 1763 Jérôme Lalande, a French astronomer, noted in his diary19 ‘I dressed to go to Vauxhall which is open today in spite of the rain. It is a magnificent garden 800 feet in length and from 320 to 550 feet wide. On the left is a beautiful salon for the orchestra when it rains, with a very large hall where there are three large paintings. … On the right and left are two large half- moons furnished with boxes; another elevated, architecturally decorated box for the princes … I spent eleven and a half hours there. The hackney coach cost a half a crown.’ MAY On this day in 1712 was published in The Spectator No.383, the story20 by Joseph Addison of the visit to Vauxhall of Mr. Spectator and Sir Roger de Coverley, in which Sir Roger tells one of the local harlots that she is ‘a wanton baggage’, and, on leaving, informs the manageress ‘That he should be a better Customer of her Garden, if there were more Nightingales, and fewer Strumpets.’ MAY On this day in 1763 Jérôme Lalande, a French astronomer, recorded in his diary,21 ‘We dined at Mr Scott’s, Leicester fields, and from there I went to Vauxhall, where time passed deliciously. The Duke of York was there with the Duchess of Buckingham. There are 57 boxes on the left and 81 on the right.’ MAY On this day in 1739 Arthur Pond, a moderately successful and fashionable22 portrait painter and pastellist, noted in his journal his first visit to Vauxhall. He spent 3 shillings there, and was to become a regular visitor. MAY On this day in 1743 the second group of engravings after the supper-box23 paintings was published following publication of the first group on 4 April; the final group was to follow on 1 February 1744. The second group included ‘The Milkmaids’ Garland’, ‘Sliding on the Ice,’ and ‘The King and the Miller of Mansfield.’ MAY On this day in 1714 Ralph Thoresby of Leeds, a historian, recorded in his24 diary ‘We went by water to Fox-hall and the Spring Garden. I was surprised with so many pleasant walks, &c., so near London.’ MAY On this day in 1742 Horace Walpole wrote to Horace Mann from Downing25 Street, ‘Today calls itself May the 26th as you perceive by the date, but I am writing to you by the fireside, instead of going to Vauxhall. If we have one warm day in seven, We bless our stars and think it luxury. And yet we have as much waterworks and fresco diversions, as if we lay ten degrees nearer warmth. Two nights ago Ranelagh Gardens were opened at Chelsea; the Prince, Princess, Duke, much nobility, and much mob besides were there. There is a vast amphitheatre, finely gilt, painted and illuminated, into which everybody that loves eating, drinking, staring, or crowding, is admitted for twelvepence.’ MAY On this day in 1789 a correspondent of the Evening Mail reported that there26 had been a Gala at Vauxhall. Not many visitors, but good quality, ‘and what was rather singular, many of the Ladies appeared in full dress.’ The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Clarence arrived later. ‘The transparencies of Mr. Serres were much admired, and deservedly so; the Royal George and Charlotte had a good effect on each side of the orchestra. Pieltain played a solo Concerto with great taste and judgement.’ Miss Leary, Mrs. Billington, and Mr. Incledon were the singers. MAY On this day in 1840 was the second of three days of the auction sale of ‘various27 moveable articles’ from Vauxhall Gardens by Mr Hoggart, following the bankruptcy of Frederick Gye and Richard Hughes. Lot 206 was ‘Two old figures of hermits’, which sold for ten shillings, and lot 217 was ‘A very large figure of Britannia, framed and canvassed’; otherwise tables, seats, tools, building materials and ‘sundries’ made up the rest. The first day had been mostly lighting equipment, and the third disposed of domestic and gardening equipment, finishing up with lot 457, ‘A strong useful bay cart horse.’ MAY On this day in 1822 Vauxhall Gardens were designated ‘The Royal Gardens,28 Vauxhall’ by Royal Warrant of King George IV. This royal designation was later confirmed by King William IV and by Queen Victoria. MAY On this day in 1786 was held the ‘Vauxhall Jubilee’, celebrating fifty29 years since Jonathan Tyers re-launched the gardens with his 1732 Ridotto al Fresco. The fact that it was four years late did not worry Bryant Barrett, the husband of Tyers’s grand-daughter Elizabeth, who had just taken on the management from his father-in- law. The doors opened at 7pm on a warm, dry evening. Shrubberies had been planted to appeal to the new taste for gardening, and many other improvements had been undertaken. Up to six thousand people paid half a guinea for a ticket. MAY On this day in 1786 Vauxhall opened for the new season. The correspondent30 of the Morning Chronicle reported the next day that ‘This ancient resort of the lovers of amusement was last night thrown open for the season, under the most promising appearances; not in point of weather, for that was discouraging; nor in point of numbers, for there were “awful” few.’ But the entertainments ‘cannot be too highly commended’, and, if the weather improved, ‘Vauxhall will stand pre- eminent amongst the amusements of the metropolis.’ MAY On this day in 1792 the new season opened with a masquerade. Tickets31 cost one guinea, and the musical programme was, unusually, without songs, but with some ‘Instrumental Full pieces’. JUNE On this day in 1812 the season opened. George Rogers Barrett, son of Bryant Barrett,1 had rebuilt several features of the gardens which his father had allowed to become dilapidated. ‘It is hoped the indulgence of a liberal public will sanction the necessity that has induced the Proprietor (though reluctantly) to advance the price of admission Sixpence each person’ [to 2s.6d.].