VAUXHALL  , a

district on the south bank of the river Thames, in London, England, included in the metropolitan borough of Lambeth . The manor was held by Falkes de Breaute (whence the name, $ alkes Hall) in the time of John and Henry III . About 1661 public gardens were laid out here, known as the New Spring Garden, and later as Spring Gardens, but more familiar under the title of Vauxhall Gardens . They soon became the favourite fashionable resort of the metropolis; but as a place of general entertainment they underwent great development from 1732 under the management of Jonathan Tyers (d . 1767) and his sons Thomas and Jonathan . In 1822, with the approval of George IV., who frequented the gardens before his accession, the epithet Royal was added to their title . By the middle of the 19th century, however, Vauxhall had lost its high reputation; in 1859 the gardens were finally closed, and the site was quickly built over .