In 1643 Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, bought three acres of land and subsequently leased them to his gardener, Boydell Cuper. Either he or his son opened this garden, which was enlarged in 1686 by seven acres leased from the Archbishop of Canterbury, to the public. Known popularly as Cupid's Gardens, during the 1740s fashionable society including the Prince and Princess of Wales were visitors, enjoying the fireworks and orchestra.

The garden closed in 1760 and was replaced two years later by Beaufoy's Vinegar Yard, described by Robert Wilkinson as a 'depraved place of entertainment and resort'. This was demolished to make way for the approaches to Waterloo Bridge