CHAPTER V
THE LONDON PLEASURE GARDENS
During the eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth
centuries the Pleasure Gardens filled a position
in the lives of a large proportion of the public comparable
with that of the Cinema to-day.
To the great mass of the public, the most general form of evening relaxation was a visit to one or other of these places of resort. Apart from meals of a more or less elaborate nature, and liquid refreshments of various kinds, a great variety of entertainments were provided, varying from displays of horsemanship to exhibitions of paintings. Of these diversions none were more general than fireworks and illuminations. At many gardens fireworks formed a regular feature of the programme, at others, generally less ambitious undertakings, displays were confined to occasions, such as the King's Birthday.
Space will hardly permit of more than a glance at those resorts situated in the provinces, but a description of those in the London area may be taken as typical.
Captain Marryat, in "Peter Simple," gives an account of a visit to Postdown Fair, near Portsmouth, and an adjournment to the local Ranelagh Gardens to "see the fireworks." As the pyrotechnist was behind time, Peter Simple and his friends took it upon themselves to fire the display. "In about half a minute off they all went in the most beautiful confusion; there were silver stars and golden stars, blue lights and Catherine Wheels, Mines and Bombs, Grecian fires and Roman Candles, Chinese Trees, rockets and illuminated mottoes, all firing away, cracking, popping, and fizzing at the same time. It was unanimously agreed that it was a great improvement on the intended show."
