The Waterside Entrance to Cremorne Gardens

Greaves' painting depicts the south-east entrance to Cremorne Gardens from Cremorne Road, with a hansom cab just outside the gates. Several people have clustered around the entrance, including two well-dressed ladies who appear to be waving to the woman in the cab. Cremorne was turned into a pleasure garden by Renton Nicholson in 1843 and officially opened three years later. One of the most notorious of London's pleasure gardens, it was closed in 1877. In the background, the pier, which was used by the City Steamship Company, can be seen with the City flag flying above it. Although the date 1859 is clearly written on the painting, the costume indicates a later date of 1876-9.