VAUXHALL

neighbourhood in the borough of Lambeth in London, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Thames near Vauxhall Bridge. Public gardens were laid out there about 1661 and were a favourite resort of the metropolis from the 17th century, during the time of the diarists Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, to the early 19th century, during the time of the Prince Regent, later King George IV. By 1859 the increasing urbanization of London caused the gardens to be closed and the site built over. See also Vauxhall Gardens from Encyclopdia Britannica's 2nd edition (177784), which provides a detailed description of the grounds in the late 18th century.