The Square was laid out around 1840 as a garden, primarily for the benefit of the owner of Vernon House, located at the southern end.
Later, in the 19th century, it was laid out as a tennis court, later still as a badminton court and for the earlier part of the 20th century as a garden, very much with the emphasis on vegetable production.
From around the late 1950s the garden received little attention until its derelict state was brought to the attention of the local planning authority. Some remedial works were carried out to remove broken trees but essentially no reinstatement took place.
By the 1980s they had become very overgrown and derelict. At one stage the local Council wanted to turn the gardens into a car park. In 1986, after many abortive attempts, the square was purchased from the owner by the newly formed Vernon Square Preservation Society, who set about raising funds to reinstate this unique square on the Island. Through fundraising, support by the then Medina Borough Council and much hard work the gardens were completely refurbished. (This contribution provides some interesting background to this period)
They were officially opened by the noted biologist and TV personality David Bellamy in 1989.
Ever since then, over many years, the gardens have been maintained by the members of the Society, funded partly by grants and sponsorship but mostly by membership subscriptions and donations. Regular summer and winter music events have also been organised to raise much-needed funds
The original Preservation Society was renamed in 2017 as the Vernon Square Conservation Society and a company, Vernon Square Conservation Society Limited, was founded to take ownership of the Gardens. The Articles of Association of the company specifically dedicate the Society to the goal of maintaining and improving Vernon Square Gardens in perpetuity as a garden open to the public for everyone to enjoy. We are a not-for-profit organisation where all funds are required to be used solely for this pupose, thereby guaranteeing the future of Vernon Square Gardens.
Many thanks are due to the very many members and officers of the Society for their dedicated service over the years.
Acknowledgement: Ian Smith (an earlier Vice-Chairman and Chairman) provided much of the history text above.