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Date updated: 17/05/2022

In the early eighteenth century pleasure gardens were a popular leisure attraction. Sharon Tuff introduces us to Ranelagh Gardens.

Royal Hospital Chelsea with The Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens on the right, 1751
Royal Hospital Chelsea with The Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens on the right, 1751

Ranelagh Gardens was built on a site east of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the location of a house built for Lord Ranelagh in the 1690s.

The land was acquired by a syndicate led by James Lacy, lessee of the Drury Lane Theatre, and Sir Thomas Robinson MP. The centrepiece of the gardens was a rotunda, modelled on the Roman Pantheon, but larger in size. Built by William Jones, a surveyor to the East India Company, it was heated by a central fireplace with an orchestra, an organ and 52 candle lit boxes around the walls where guests could take refreshments. Once admitted crowds could promenade around the central fireplace.

Inside view of the Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens, c.1750
Inside view of the Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens, c.1750. Visitors can be seen promenading around the central fire, as well as taking breakfast on benches

The gardens opened on 22 April 1742 for concerts and public breakfasts for three days per week, admission was 12 pence. Although initially popular, they were soon seen as monotonous and rather staid and new features were added to make the venue more interesting, including a canal and Chinese House.

The 'Chinese House' a covered structure on the canal, at Ranelagh Gardens, c.1750
The 'Chinese House' a covered structure on the canal, at Ranelagh Gardens, c.1750

There were masquerades, gaming tables, dancing, and later lotteries and balloon ascents. Entertainments included the young Mozart, performing in 1764, and a notorious incident in 1752, where Mr Brown pulled off Dr. John Hill's wig! In 1803, the rotunda was used for the final time and Ranelagh Gardens was demolished two years later.

Mr Brown pulls of Dr Hill's wig at Ranelagh Gardens, 1752
The notorious incident of Mr Brown pulling of Dr Hill's wig! Ranelagh Gardens, 1752

Continue your research

  • LMA holds thousands of pictures, maps and visual material covering Ranelagh Gardens, the surrounding areas, and all of London. Visit the London Picture Archive to see more
See more images of Ranelagh Gardens
Ticket for a Grand Masque Ball at Ranelagh Gardens, 1802
Ticket for a Grand Masque Ball at Ranelagh Gardens, 1802
Related links
The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, with Ranelagh Gardens to the right, as seen from the Thames, c.1750
The Rotunda at Ranelagh Gardens, c.1750
View of the Canal, Chinese Building and Rotunda in Ranelagh Gardens, Chelsea, c1750
The 'Chinese House' a covered structure on the canal, at Ranelagh Gardens, c.1750
A cross section of the Rotunda at Ranelagh Gardens, 1761
Mr Brown pulling off Dr Hill's wig at Ranelagh Gardens, 1752
Ticket for a Grand Masqued Ball at Ranelagh Gardens, 1802
A visitor to Ranelagh wearing 'continental' fashions