Marylebone Pleasure Garden
1737-1777
Marylebone Garden by John Donowell, detail of left
side
Women had a great place in the heritage of the gardens. They not
only contributed to the patronage of the gardens, but they also
provided much of the enertainment. In 1763 Thomas Lowe decided, in
his first season managing the gardens, to recruit six female singers
for the gardens. The most famous of these was Miss Ann Catley who
had more than ten years experience behind her. So, on the 9th of May
the gardens opened with three of the women and Thomas Lowe singing 'A
New Musical Address to the Town'. Of course, such light-hearted
tributes were accompanied by Handel's compositions and orchestras in
order to provide the public with variety. (Sands 57-61)
When the winter months made the enjoyment of the outdoors
impossible, Marylebone Garden found a different way to enertain and
impress London residents. In 1760-61 in particular, the gardens
opened themselves to the 'genteel Company'. It was Miss Trusler,
not a male chef, who created the menu and had ultimate control of
food services. Thus, she was behind the appeal to the gardens at
this time. (Sands 47-49)
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