Why Sydney?
Originally the park was called Bath Vauxhall Gardens, after the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London. It is thought that the Pulteney family renamed the gardens after Viscount Thomas Townsend in an attempt to curry political favour. The Viscount was the first Viscount Sydney and he was heavily involved in British Colonial activities and trade, such as, the establishment of the British colony in Australia. There is no evidence that Sydney ever visited the Gardens and he died in 1800.
The Sydney Gardens connection with Sydney, Australia, will become stronger when the Admiral Philip memorial statue is installed in Sydney Gardens. Admiral Philip was the first Governor of New South Wales and he set up the first penal colony in Australia in 1788. He is buried in Bathampton but has a memorial plaque in Bath Abbey.
Originally the park was called Bath Vauxhall Gardens, after the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London. It is thought that the Pulteney family renamed the gardens after Viscount Thomas Townsend in an attempt to curry political favour. The Viscount was the first Viscount Sydney and he was heavily involved in British Colonial activities and trade, such as, the establishment of the British colony in Australia. There is no evidence that Sydney ever visited the Gardens and he died in 1800.
The Sydney Gardens connection with Sydney, Australia, will become stronger when the Admiral Philip memorial statue is installed in Sydney Gardens. Admiral Philip was the first Governor of New South Wales and he set up the first penal colony in Australia in 1788. He is buried in Bathampton but has a memorial plaque in Bath Abbey.
