Victoria Pleasure Gardens were created by public subscription to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. These gardens were popular with the elegant Edwardians and in 1910 Walkers of Tewkesbury installed a band-stand which was in regular use until the 1950s. In 2007 a combination of severe flooding and reduced funding devastated the gardens. What we see now is the result of collaboration between local councils and a volunteer group, ‘The Friends of Victoria Pleasure Gardens’.

The main features of the gardens include the old wall of the Abbey Grounds, The Abbey Malthouse, now used as private dwellings and the The Mill Avon.  The Mill Avon is a spur of the River Avon, cut by medieval monks to power their flour mill. The mill seen today is the 18th century replacement and currently privately-owned flats.

After the flooding in 2007 new flowerbeds were formed in 2008. Brightly coloured annuals are planted in early June and permanent plants are chosen to withstand the annual winter floods and provide food an shelter for insects.

The arches at the entrances were financed from public donations and erected in 2012 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II*

*Information from a signboard in the gardens