Little Ash Tea Gardens in Saltash Passage

Little Ash Tea Gardens was a very popular beauty spot and was visited by over twenty thousand people in one year. Now long gone, its location would have been at the far end of where Little Ash Gardens now stands. In the background of the photo, steps lead down from near to the fields at the Kloof. With the steep bank, it's easy to imagine this as Little Ash Quarry. Though it's hard to see, there are huge queues of people both on the steps and at the top of the steep drop. In the picture, there is a larger tent, with Little Ash Tea Gardens painted on the top in large letters, and a smaller tent with seats laid out underneath. Several large flag poles, with flags flying, mark its location. All around, there are coloured bunting flags and also a wooden picket fence along the edge. The van on the left of the picture belongs to a company called 'Day'. A programme of music was played by the band of the Plymouth Corporation Tramways and Transport. The conductor of the band, in the 1920s, was a Mr C E Lewenden and some of the tunes of the day that were played included; 'She Don't Wanna', 'I Want to be Alone with Mary Brown' and 'Trail of the Tamarind Tree'. Some of the patrons who attended the event included Vice-Admiral Sir Rudolph Bentinck, Major Leslie Hore-Belisha MP and Rear Admiral Oliver Backhouse, as well as many other Naval Officers. Combined with the Regatta, it was quite an event.

Here’s an advert for the tea gardens. It was then described as Devonport’s beauty spot (Saltash Passage, at the time, was classed as part of Devonport). It served high class teas and refreshments, had brass bands and park rides such as swings, roundabouts and see-saws. Frequent tramcars ran from Stuart Road, Morice Square and Tor Lane. The return fare for adults was 5d and for children 3d. Advertised as the ideal place for Sunday School outings. The Officials included the Lord Mayor who, in the 1920s,was Councillor W H Priest, G A Daymond of Mount Tamar Villas and Walter Wyatt of Baden Terrace. James Ware who lived at the Kloof, was treasurer until ill health stopped him taking part after 1928.