The Public Accommodation Company had the two entrance lodges built and the gardens were laid out by Mr. E. Thomas, landscape gardener, of Aughton, who also laid out the Promenade Gardens.

The area comprised about twelve acres and were laid out, as far as possible, in the natural state, with the sand dunes preserved. In its "palmy" days it was a pleasant retreat, with its lawns, flower-beds, pond, avenues of trees, and hills literally covered with all manner of flowering plants. 
In springtime it was a pretty sight to see thousands of stocks and wallflowers in bloom in crannies and nooks, along the paths, growing in wild profusion. It was', a favourite resort of picnic parties which visited St.Annes in the 1880s.



As these gardens were operated by a private company there was an admission charge.