Rosherville Gardens was a pleasure garden in Gravesend, Kent, England.

The Gardens

Rosherville was opened in 1839 by George Jones (a business man from Islington in north London) on the site of a disused chalk pit in Northfleet. It became a favourite destination for thousands of Londoners during good weather, many travelling by paddle steamer down the River Thames. In 1878 many visitors to the gardens died in the disaster.

At one time it was managed by Barnet Nathan, brother of the musician and 'friend of Byron' Isaac Nathan. Barnet, who was known professionally as 'Baron Nathan' (in mockery of Nathan Rothschild), was renowned for his act of dancing a hornpipe, blind-folded, across a stage laid out with eggs. On his death he merited an obituary in Punch.

The advent of the railways led to the Gardens' demise, as Londoners were now able to reach coastal resorts such as Margate and Southend.

In literature

Rosherville is mentioned in The Newcomes (vol. 2 chapter 6) by William Makepeace Thackeray, where its Gothic Hall is singled out for its gaudiness.

It is referred to in Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera "The Sorcerer" Act 2. Mr Wells sings "Hate me! I spend the day at ROSHERVILLE!"

It is also mentioned as a "place to spend a happy day" in chapter 13 of E. Nesbit's The Story of the Amulet.

Links

Map of Rosherville Gardens