| Name |
Dates |
Occupation |
Connection |
Carl Friedrich ABEL
 |
1723 - 1787 |
Musician |
Played with J. C. Bach in the Gardens. |
(Dr) Thomas ARNE
 |
1710-1778 |
Composer |
Work regularly played in the Gardens. Best known for 'Rule, Britannia' |
Johann Christian BACH
 |
1735-1782 |
Music Master |
Wrote songs for and played in the Gardens |
| Sir Henry Rowley BISHOP |
1786-1855 |
Composer |
Musical Director? |
James BOSWELL
 |
1740-1795 |
Writer |
Boswell commented, 'Vauxhall Gardens is peculiarly adapted to the taste of the English nation; there being a mixture of curious show, - gay exhibition, musick, vocal and instrumental, not too refined for the general ear; - for all which only a shilling is paid [this was raised to two shillings in 1792 after 'more expensive decorations' had been introduced] .And, though last, not least, good eating and drinking for those who wish to purchase that regale.' |
| Thomas Simpson COOKE |
1782-1848 |
Irish Singer |
Musical manager of the Gardens |
John EVELYN
 |
1620-1706 |
Diarist |
John Evelyn's Diary of 2nd July 1661 notes "I went to see, the new Spring-Garden at Lambeth a pretty contriv�d plantation". |
| Thomas GLADWIN |
1710-1799 |
Musician |
Organist |
| Hubert-François Bourguignon GRAVELOT |
1699-1733 |
French engraver |
Engraved Francis Hayman's paintings for Vauxhall Gardens |
George Frederic HANDEL
 |
1685-1759 |
Composer |
Music for the Royal Fireworks rehearsed in the Gardens on 21 April 1749
|
| Francis HAYMAN |
1707-1776 |
Painter |
Painting of decorations for the boxes and pavilions |
James HOOK
 |
1746-1827 |
Musician |
Organist & Composer |
| Chrales Benjamin |
1763-1826 |
Tenor |
Sang in Gardens |
| Peter MONAMY |
1689-1749 |
Painter |
Involved with decorating the gardens |
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
 |
1756-1791 |
Composer |
Gave several sensational performances in the Vauxhall Gardens |
Samuel PEPYS
 |
1633-1703 |
Diarist and naval administrator |
Pepys often visited the gardens and on 28 May 1667 described it thus: 'A great deal of company and the weather and garden pleasant. ..It is very cheap going thither, for a man may go to spend what he will, or nothing, all is one - but to hear the nightingales and other birds, and here fiddles and there a harp, and here a jews trump, and here laughing, and there fine people walking, is mighty divertising. Among others, there were two pretty women alone, that walked a great while; which [being] discovered by some idle gentlemen, they would needs take them up; but to see the poor ladies, how they were put to it to run from them, and they after them; and sometimes the ladies put themselfs along with other company, then the others drew back; at last, the ladies did get off out of the house and took boat and away.' On 27th July 1668 Pepys observed: 'How rude some of the young gallants of the town are become, to go into people's arbors where there are not men, and almost force the women - which troubled me, to see the confidence of the vice of the age: and so we away by water, with much pleasure home.' |
| Louis François ROUBILLAC |
1695-1762 |
French sculptor |
Bust of Handel erected in 1738
 |
Thomas ROWLANDSON
 |
1756-1827 |
Caricaturist |
Drawing entitled 'Vauxhall Gardens' (1784) |
Sir John VANBRUGH
 |
1664-1726 |
Dramatist and architect |
Wrote The Provok'd Wife which is set in the Gardens |
John WORGAN
|
1724-1790 |
Composer |
Had numerous songs performed in the Gardens |