Spa Fields Pleasure Garden 

‘When Hamish changed his patronage to Vauxhall Gardens, for higher-class company, Claudius overcame his shyness. He began visiting Spa Fields Pleasure Garden on his own. Nothing of his new life was mentioned in his occasional letters to his mother; he continued writing as if from France. He was ashamed of himself but knew that his mother wanted to have a successful and honourable son.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024). 

More about Spa Fields Pleasure Garden

 The name ‘Spa Fields’ comes from the ‘London Spaw,’ which was a public house selling water believed to have medicinal properties. Initially, it served as a pleasure ground with activities like duck-hunting, prize-fighting, and bull-baiting. Pleasure gardens in the 18th century were known as places where individuals from various social backgrounds were involved in prostitution. They were places to solicit clients and the presence of secluded areas within the gardens provided opportunities for clandestine encounters. Drinking alcohol was a common aspect of socialising and refreshment stalls and taverns within Spa Fields likely served alcoholic beverages to visitors. Later, concerns about the ‘rude sports’. The Countess of Huntingdon established a chapel, further improving the moral tone. In the 19th century, Spa Fields became a notorious burial ground known for overcrowding, poor management, and body-snatching incidents. Today, Spa Fields is a small public park popular with office workers and families. It features a playground, sports facilities, and benches for relaxation.

London's 18th century pleasure gardens have become a popular topic with garden historians, with Spa Fields Pleasure Garden one of London's least well-known 18th-century examples. Promoters of Victorian public parks in the nineteenth century made sure they would not be used for the consumption of alcohol. Yet the tradition of 'beer gardens' survives in many European countries (notably Germany) and could be reintroduced to London. Claudius Buchanan's life shows that youthful indescretions can precede great things.