Victoria Gardens, Portland

The idea of transforming the land known as Little Common into a public garden was first suggested in 1896, along with the transformation of another Portland site, Easton Square, into Easton Gardens. Plans for Little Common were drawn up by the surveyor Mr E. J. Elford in 1897 and approved in 1901. Once funding was secured, work began in November 1902 and Victoria Gardens were officially opened on 25 May 1904 by Mr Henry Sansom, Chairman of the Portland Urban District Council. The event was attended by thousands of local residents and visitors, and performances were provided by the Portland Town Band. These were later removed but not replaced until 2015.