ows, some eight or ten acres in
extent, which was sold by the parish for about three or four hundred
pounds. There was, even in De Barranger's time, some entertainment at
Cremorne, for in the meadow known as Cremorne Meadow on the opposite side
of the King's Road, a fair was held, and at Cremorne ground some pony
races and a horse and sporting-dog show, but the commencement of Cremorne
as a place of public entertainment was in about 1839, under Baron
Nicholson, of the Garrick Head, in Bow Street. This was where the "Judge
and Jury" was held, with Baron Nicholson as the presiding judge, when
counsel used to appear in wig and gown, and very remarkable mock trials
were held, the evidence being of a broad and indecent character. The
partner of the Baron in organising the fete at Cremorne was a man of the
name of Littlejohn. It was extensively advertised by bands of music
drawn about in stage coaches, and was called a "Thousand Guinea Fete."
The entertainment lasted three days, and dancing, singing, music and
drinking went on till the small hours of the morning. This, I believe,
was not a commercial success.

Two years after the place was opened by a Mr. Ellis, I think, a musical
man connected with Drury Lane Theatre; regular entertainments were
provided, and a band stand erected with a circular dancing platform round
it, and a lot of alcoves and nooks for refreshments under the band stand
and round the platform and in various parts of the gardens. A pavilion
for concerts was afterwards added. Before these arrangements were made
the dancing was in the long room of Cremorne House, which was turned into
the supper room. The House was kept open during the summer in a
languishing sort of way till about 1848, when it came to grief and was
closed. About 1849 it was purchased by a Mr. Simpson, I believe, a hotel
keeper from near Covent Garden Theatre, and the whole thing was greatly
improved and decorated and opened with some first-class music and popular
artistes. Two of the leading cornet players were engaged, Coney and
Arbin, and a great amount of vigour and energy were thrown into its
management, and from that time it became the most popular place of
amusement and appeared to be vieing with Vauxhall Gardens, which were
then on the wane of their popularity. The land on the river front was
taken in and converted into a pleasure garden, and a rustic bridge thrown
across the road, connecting it with Cremorne proper, and r