The Italian Gardens occupy a narrow strip of land on the landward side of the Esplanade which runs along the seafront in central Penarth, on gently sloping ground (formerly used for boathouses) that has been levelled into two terraces. Above, the ground rises steeply to Windsor Gardens at the top of the cliff (nprn 301674). They were laid out and opened in 1926 and constitute a well-preserved Edwardian-style public garden in a fine setting on the sea front.

The lower terrace, flanked by sloping flower beds, is a tarmac walk, with benches, bounded by the curving limestone rockwork edges of the flowerbeds on either side which also features cordylines and a Chusan palm. The upper terrace, accessed by steps flanked by Irish yews, is a long straight walk of random paving stones, backed by a roughly coursed dry-stone wall. The terrace supports a small rockery bed (at the south end), a sundial base, modern planters and benches. The terrace continues along the north side of the garden, leading to a platform with a low parapet wall and bench.

The garden, surrounded by iron railings, was always intended as a rock garden, and early photographs of the 1930s and 1950s show the layout of the garden to be unchanged since then.

Source:
Cadw 2000: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales, Glamorgan (ref: PGW(Gm)35(GLA)).

RCAHMW, 6 July 2022

Site Record

Italian Gardens, Penarth