Torquay has very little space near the sea for gardens and other facilities for visitors. So it was decided to reclaim some land from the sea to create the Princess Gardens. The Princess Pier which enlarged the Harbour was built at the same time. Princess Louise laid the foundation stone of the pier in May 1890 and both the pier and the gardens were named after her. A pier and gardens named after a member of the Royal Family would have been a great boost to the status of the resort. The garden was completed in June 1894. By 1898 there were tennis courts and a bowling green, where the pavilion now stands. In this photgraph, you can see the cranes and heavy machinery used. If you compare this photograph with the one called Torbay Hotel and Sulyarde Terrace you can see where the seafront was before the land was reclaimed.