ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti, ðə sˈaɪt wʌz ɪnˈɪʃəli ɹˌiːdɪvˈɛləpt æz ðə stˈiːfɪl plˈɛʒɚ ɡˈɑːɹdənz bᵻfˌoːɹ sˌɜː hˈæɹəld hˈɪliɚz ɪnvˈɑːlvmənt ɪn ɪts mˈoːɹ ɛkstˈɛnsɪv dɪvˈɛləpmənt æz ɐ bətˈænɪkəl ɡˈɑːɹdən.
In 1970, the site was initially redeveloped as the Steephill Pleasure Gardens before Sir Harold Hillier's involvement in its more extensive development as a botanical garden.