The National Trust is to cast its eye over a Bath landmark with a history stretching back to 1924 that could be demolished and turned into flats.

The Rockery Tea Gardens in Combe Down, has been owned by the same family for the past 80 years and has acted as wedding venue for hundreds of couples through the generations.

But because the current owner, Richard Lovegrove, cannot find a new tenant to take the venue on, he has applied for permission to build two new houses, nine apartments and nine garages, while protecting most of the woodland at the two-acre site.

But residents in Combe Down are keen to see the tea gardens remain in their current form and have urged the National Trust to take on the lease instead.

Jane Goodwin, who lives in a bungalow adjacent to the tea gardens, said: "The Rockery has been an open space for almost 80 years and it would be a shame to lose it with its wonderful trees and wildlife, to a – presumably – private gated development.

"Prior Park Gardens are a great asset to the National Trust, and would be even more visited if parking nearby (at the Rockery) was available, and possibly a restaurant/café reinstated there, with maybe even a Trust shop and plant centre.

"The Skyline Tour Bus is a natural partner to the scheme, travelling as it does from the city centre, and passing the entrance to Prior Park, the Rockery and the Skyline Walk entrances.

"It seems to me the idea of linking our Skyline Walk, Ralph Allen, Prior Park and the Combe Down Stone Mines in this way would be excellent, they are all inextricably linked in the history of Combe Down."

She added: "I would love to see it kept as it is, because there are so many memories within it."

The Rockery is one of Bath's best-kept secrets because of its impressive garden complete with stone terraces, quarry wall and luxurious curving green lawns, situated on part of an open-cast mine.

A variety of animals including deer, foxes, woodpeckers and owls are often seen there.

The gardens were started by two women who served tea in what is now the car park to passengers from the tramcars. But the tea rooms closed a year ago and since then the owner has been unable to find anyone to take them on.

Mrs Goodwin's concerns have been shared by many local residents, as well as the lobby group the Bath Heritage Watchdog, and she has won the backing of Combe Down Liberal Democrat councillors Cherry Beath and Roger Symonds.

Cllr Beath said: "This is a unique and beautiful site and an asset to Combe Down which has been appreciated by visitors and locals for generations. While I can understand the current difficulty facing the owner, I thoroughly commend Mrs Goodwin's proposal to involve the National Trust, and preserve the natural, open character of this site."

Cllr Symonds added: "It would be a sad day for Combe Down if the Rockery is lost."

Mr Lovegrove has always stressed that he would strive for a development that blends with its surroundings.

He said: "I have a social conscience. We're not proposing overdevelopment.

"We could have raised a lot more money with 50 to 60 homes. This is a sympathetic, low-density development."

He is likely to sell the land with detailed planning consent if he wins approval from Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Wendy Stott, National Trust property manager for Dyrham Park and Bath, said she had instructed a surveying team to look into the potential costs and feasibility of purchasing or leasing the site.

"We don't want to overly raise any hopes, but we do appreciate that this is a site which means a lot to people who love Bath and for that reason we believe it is worth investigating the possibility further."