The gardens, once a place for the wealthy to 'take the air' and 'be seen', are found in the centre of the town on the Parade, with the River Leam flowing to the south of them.

A Corinthian-style temple was added to the gardens in 1849 and inside it a large marble statue of the doctor by the Birmingham sculptor Peter Hollins.

In 1869, Hitchman received recognition of his efforts when a fountain bearing his name was erected in the gardens, near the boundary with the town's main street.

This was followed in 1875 by a grey granite obelisk memorial to Edward Willes[3] and in 1925 by a clock tower dedicated to Alderman William Davis, who was mayor of the town three times.

There were flower shows which drew entrants from all over England, firework and fairy light displays, balloon ascents and band concerts.

Its purpose is to honour those who served in the Czech Free Army, which was based in the town, especially seven men who were parachuted into Czechoslovakia for the assassination (Operation Anthropoid) of Nazi general Reinhard Heydrich.

[6][7] Since the end of the Second World War, investment in the gardens had fallen and the task of running them had passed to the Warwick District Council rather than private individuals.

For this reason the council began major work on the gardens in 1999 and eventually won a £3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In 2010, the Grade II listed building, East Lodge,[8] at the Willes Road entrance to the park, originally built in 1846/7, was redeveloped into a sustainability visitor centre.

The Jephson Memorial was featured on the cover of the Ocean Colour Scene album Moseley Shoals,[12] and the park's underpass was found on The Shapes, Songs For Sensible People.