 The gardens began as farmland which belonged to Edward Willes, a member of the Willes family who played an important part in the shaping of early Leamington.The original gardens, covering just under , were laid out in 1834 at the request of the landowner with free entry to anyone between 7 am and 10 am.For the remainder of the day the gardens were open only to paying customers and patrons of a nearby spa bath house.