St. Anne's Well Gardens, Brighton

St. Anne's Well Gardens, Brighton

Saint Ann's Well Gardens is a historic park in Hove, just half a mile from the coast. The park is most famous for its chalybeate spring, known as Saint Ann's Well. The name "Saint Ann" does not refer to a saint but is instead derived from the legend of Annafrieda, a Saxon woman whose tears, after the tragic death of her lover, were said to have formed the spring. This spring, rich in iron, has been a notable feature of the park for many years.

Owned and maintained by Brighton and Hove City Council, Saint Ann's Well Gardens offers a variety of attractions and amenities. The park is home to numerous native and exotic trees, and it features a scented garden that allows visitors to enjoy a diverse array of fragrances. For families, there are well-equipped playgrounds with swings, slides, and other play structures. The park also includes eight tennis courts, a café, a fish pond, and conservation areas where the natural flora is left undisturbed.

Saint Ann's Well Gardens has a rich history, with the land being purchased by local authorities in 1908. The park was officially opened to the public on Empire Day that same year. Notable contributions to the park's development include donations by Mrs. Flora Sassoon, widow of businessman Sassoon David Sassoon. In 1913, she purchased and donated land for croquet lawns, and she also contributed various decorative items such as turf, croquet equipment, and statues.

Over time, some of the original structures, like the pump room, were replaced due to the slowing of the spring's flow. In its place, a mock wellhead was installed in 1935. Other historical buildings, such as the Grasshopper Cottage and Wick Farmhouse, were incorporated into the park but were later demolished after World War II. The Swiss chalet-style café that once stood in the park was replaced by a more modern structure in the 1970s.

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St. Anne's Well Gardens on Map

Sight Name: St. Anne's Well Gardens
Sight Location: Brighton, England (See walking tours in Brighton)
Sight Type: Religious

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