NHER 26487 (Monument record) - The Wilderness

1748 City granted a hundred year lease on part of Butter Hills as Bruisters Rural Gardens. In 1768 public breakfasts and illuminations took place. Closed from 1770-3. Views from city wall towers were a feature of the grounds which included dense planting and formal gardens. 1773 reopened with elaborate automatons including clockwork sheep but bankrupt by 1778. Grounds extended west of Southgate Lane until at least 1789. Subdivided, but part reopened by 1812 for fireworks, feasts etc as Richmond Hill Gardens. A tablet dated 1817 on the Black Tower recorded conversion to public gardens. 1840s and 1852, houses built and gardens became private. 1924 Capt Sandys Winsch drew up plans for laying out as a public park, but abandoned due to lack of funds. Area at present overgrown. Norfolk Historic Gardens Survey grades as regional importance as being at least in part a rare survival of 18th century pleasure grounds. See (S1) for further details.
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA), 22 July 1998.