The gardens date from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and much of the original layout remains.

[2] The gardens (along with a pond and ice-house) were formally laid out in around 1773 shortly after the main house had been built by Thomas Lucas (a merchant and treasurer of Guy's Hospital).

The gardens were a popular destination for locals and during the second world war air raid shelters were built within the grounds.

The following year, on 16 October, the gardens suffered extensive damage from the Great Storm of 1987 with many mature trees being toppled.

The gardens feature oak, London plane, cypress, horse chestnut and weeping willow trees and are home to various birds: wren, kingfisher, great tit, rose-ringed parakeet and pigeons.

The lake has numerous waterfowl: Canada goose, heron, coot and moorhen; as well as marine life in the form of ornamental goldfish.