At least that's the view of many residents, who are finally seeing the historic gardens return to at least some of their former glory.
The site was first recorded as a Maltings owned by the Lord of the Manor in 1725 (hence the engraving of the Osb
aldeston family crest) and has also been a dance hall, a pub, a creamery and a village institute, which was destroyed by fire in 1954.
The following year it was landscaped and a sun lounge built, with memorial seating added later. Another former feature of the site was a well which once provided water for the village.
The sun lounge and the old boundary wall were demolished over the past five years for health and safety reasons, although a new wall was built to similar specifications and new railings have been added.
Because the gardens come within a designated Conservation Area, as many as possible of the original features and materials have been retained.
A total of about £30,000 has been spent on the gardens – the majority of it from grant aid.
Chairman of Bayley Gardens management committee Joyce Coggins said: "We've just got the planting to go. We would have started, but it's been too cold to put plants in!"
Once complete, the landscaped gardens will include ornamental trees, old English roses, a circular sensory bed and flowers and shrubs.
There will also be an interpretation board to explain the history of the site and the significance of the tiles on the side of the round brick feature, a display of sponsors and donors and seats to go in.
Original plans for a water feature or a monolith are unlikely to be realised for reasons of cost and practicality.
Mrs Coggins, who is also the parish council's representative on the management committee, said: "We just hope people will sit there and enjoy it."
