The Royal Avenue Gardens Dartmouth

The New Ground on which Royal Avenue Gardens was built was reclaimed from a former sandbank in the river between 1670-80. A strong wall was built around the 1.5 acres of reclaimed land, which was used as an extra quay space for ships. The New Ground was joined to the north corner of the Quay, by the Butterwalk, by a stone bridge. It became a recreation place used for bonfires and fairs, and a ferry was started from here to Kingswear. Eventually it was the Town Council which created the park, which was opened on 21 June 1887 using funds raised to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Sir Henry Paul Seale provided the Fountain. As Queen Victoria had landed at the New Ground when she visited Dartmouth in 1856, the park was named Royal Avenue Gardens.

Named in 1887 for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, these attractive gardens contain an ornamental fountain, a rose garden, a war memorial, a small pond, a herb garden, an Antipodean garden, a bandstand, the Veale/Savill memorial garden, a Mediterranean garden and a community greenhouse. Due to its mild climate, gingko, New Zealand tree ferns, olives and the Chusan palm all thrive here.

Display boards explain the history and interesting features of the gardens. The bandstand is enclosed on three sides to provide shelter and features as a stage during the town's annual cultural festivals.