Ayrton is best remembered for the so-called "Ayrton controversy". In an attempt, in the early 1870s, to reduce Government spending, Ayrton (as First Commissioner of Works) encouraged a proposal that the costly scientific functions of Kew Gardens should be transferred and that the gardens should be retained purely as a public park.
Ayrton is best known for the so-called "Ayrton issue". In an endeavor to reduce Government spending in the early 1870s, Ayrton (as First Commissioner of Works) suggested relocating Kew Gardens' expensive scientific functions and keeping the gardens as a public park.