2. Why Connaught Gardens?
The gardens were named after His Grace, The Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's third son.
Although the Duke's first visit to Sidmouth was not until 1931, the royal link with Sidmouth goes back even further when the young Princess Victoria, aged six months, with her parents, stayed in what is now the Royal Glen Hotel.
It was the Duke himself who formally opened the gardens on 3 November 1934 at the age of 84. The plaque marking the grand opening is still clearly visible within the gardens overlooking the main lawn.