History of Vernon Square Garden
The Vernon Square Garden dates from the early 1800s. The square 260 feet by 45 feet in the Regency period was a grassed area with a well, used by the four original Regency houses bordering the square. It was in the early Victorian era when the garden saw great changes. The Isle of Wight became a fashionable resort, when Queen Victoria and Albert the Prince Regent made Osbourne House, in East Cowes their holiday retreat.
The Regency Well
Ryde became important around this time when the Prince Regent, designed the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, in lower west Ryde. Many summer villas were built in Ryde as it was a gate way to the island with the new rail link from London to Portsmouth and a regular steam service across the Solent. Eleven of these new villas were built around the garden on the East and West boundaries. The northern part of the garden fronts onto Melville Street.
In 1840 the owner of Vernon House, which stands at the southern end of the square, had the grassed area laid out as a garden. Towards the end of the century the garden was laid out as a Tennis court, and then as a Badminton court. In the early part of the Twentieth century the square was turned over to mainly vegetable production. During the First World War the gardens spear pointed railings were removed for the war effort.
The garden was maintained in reasonable order until the 1950s, when it became over grown. The perimeter hedges took over and made the garden virtually impenetrable. The garden received little interest, until it's poor state was brought to the attention of the Local Planning Authority. The Isle of Wight County Council undertook some remedial work, to remove diseased trees and the undergrowth.
In 1986 after many discussions, the square was eventually purchased from it's owner Mrs Elizabeth Hargreaves, with the help of a grant of £1000 and loan of £4000 from two sisters. From then the society with Mr P Norwood as Chair and Ian Smith the Vice Chair, fund raising was started in ernest.
The Pergola and Sundial
In 1988 with further grants from Medina Borough Council and the Isle of Wight Buildings and Preservation Trust as well as funds from local Ryde businesses, the conservation work started. In a twelve month project nine workers from the Manpower Services Commission, who worked to a brief from Mr Ian Smith who was the architectural adviser, cleared the square. During the conservation works, the original Regency well was uncovered,as well as, old pathways, a pergola and original steps these features were retained to maintain the authenticity of the square.
After the initial clearance was undertaken, the garden was replanted with new shrubs and trees. Also provision was made for a new seating area at the north end of the square. In march of 1989 new steel railings were erected around the square at a cost of £7500. The cost was met by a further donation of £3000 from Median Borough Council and the balance by the society itself. The total cost of the conservation scheme was in the region of £12000.
The initial conservation project was completed early in May 1989, and a grand opening was held on Wednesday 24th May 1989. Dr David Bellamy opened the garden and a tree was planted to commemorate the event. A competition was also held later to find a new design for a sculpture for the garden after the original one was stolen. The new sun dial sculpture now stand on the upper level of the square facing the southern gates.
The Commemorative tree planted at the gardens' opening
Over the last 15 years the work of conservation has carried on with some of the original trees being removed because they had become diseased. The conifers at the northern end of the square have been recently cut back to open the garden and prevent miss use of the seating area. Work is now being under taken to repair the well head and it's canopy. There is an on going planting scheme which is intended to enhance the garden over many years and to ensure that plants that have become too old are replaced.
The gardens are now maintained with the help of Ian Ward and his team of Community Service Workers who have put in many days hard work, mowing the lawns, relaying the gardens paths, clearing some of the over grown beds and digging them over. During their work in 2005 the team planted over 2000 daffodils, crocus and snow drop bulbs which should give a beautiful show this coming spring.