The Old Zoo

Bunkers, shelters and other buildings
Dog
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Joined: Fri 04 May, 2012 6:04 am

Post by Dog »

hey all i live very close to the bear pit n i was wondering if anyone knows the entrance where the dangerous animals were brought up from? or has most of the site been destroyed with building?

Lyndale
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Joined: Fri 01 May, 2015 8:01 am

Re: The Old Zoo + Fireworks Too!

Post by Lyndale »

Genealogy being my hobby I’ve uncovered the fact that my paternal great grandfather, Alexander Benjamin Caldwell 1824-1891 (ABC for short) had been the resident Pyrotechnist for Leeds Royal Park in Headingly from 1870 until 1873 when the park was sold, after which he struggled to make ends meet by making bricks until the call came to move to the Isle of Man as resident Pyrotechnist at Derby Castle, Douglas in 1876. The firework job in Leeds was his first big break and where the Park’s advertising originated his honorary title of “Professor” (of Pyrotechnics).

Further research in the 1870’s Yorkshire Post newspaper archives found the issue of 28th May 1870, which advertised a Grand Gala for that Whit Monday at Leeds Royal Park Headingley, including during the evening…'Beautiful Fireworks by Professor Caldwell'. Regular evening fireworks were a drawcard and also encouraged the day trippers to stay at the pleasure grounds longer and spend more money.

Tommy Clapham was the founder and proprietor of Leeds Royal Park and he modelled it on the earlier pleasure parks of London such as Vauxhall and Cremorne Gardens, which differed from public parks in that they were commercial ventures. In addition to planted gardens and walks an entrance fee was payable to be entertained by attractions such as musical bandstands, rides, zoos, menageries and promenade concerts. Usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays they stayed open longer and in the evening offered ballroom dancing followed by a firework spectacular (Sundays were always closed because alcohol was banned on the Sabbath in Victorian times). The skilled Pyrotechnist of the day personally orchestrated everything from first making the fireworks by hand, designing the sets and painting the backdrops, arranging the fixed placement of the rockets, roman candles and catherine wheels, before finally letting them off using timed fuses and hoping everything is a success.

Leeds Royal Park became Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens in 1873, but alas was sold for terraced housing in 1888, encompassing present day Cardigan Road to Brudenell Road and Victoria Road which ran right through the middle. As already advised by other visitors to this forum, all that is left of the original Leeds Royal Park is the Bear Pit Monument situated in Cardigan Road, Headingley. Residents now living in Royal Park Avenue, Grove Road, Terrace and View in Hyde Park Headingley are situated where Leeds Royal Park flourished from 1848 until its closure for building development from 1873 onwards.

Tommy Clapham was a visionary of his time who conceived cheap holiday train excursions to Scarborough for the working public. By 1858 he had developed the Headingley estate for day trippers from Leeds to his pleasure park on the site of the old Victoria Cricket Ground, where matches continued to be played today, plus all manner of other entertainment, including a large ice rink back then. However by 1869 Clapham was in financial strife and having acquired a liquor licence the park now attracted all kinds of undesirables and custom fell away. The end came in 1888 when the last 10 acres were sold for housing development.

I‘m in possession of copies of the original sale particulars for Leeds Royal Park, including an original sketch of the entrance building, ornamental pond, fountain and botanical glass house used in the sale document for the 20 acres auction held at the Great Northern Station Hotel Leeds on Thursday 4th Sept 1873. It includes descriptions of the Grand Entrance, fountains, conservatory, the lawn, the original cricket ground, the dancing platform, Grand Concert Hall & Ballroom etc which adjoined Woodhouse Moor. The description reads: 'In the most fashionable and healthy part of Leeds, admirably adapted for every kind of out-door amusement and forming an unusually attractive Peoples Park'.

Whilst these days I live in Australia, if anyone is seriously interested learning the details described, then please contact me.

ShellsB
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Joined: Tue 10 Nov, 2015 10:36 pm

Re: The Old Zoo

Post by ShellsB »

Hi I would love to see those!

LS1
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Joined: Mon 23 Jul, 2007 8:30 am

Re: The Old Zoo + Fireworks Too!

Post by LS1 »

Lyndale wrote: As already advised by other visitors to this forum, all that is left of the original Leeds Royal Park is the Bear Pit Monument situated in Cardigan Road, Headingley.
Hi Lyndale, not strictly true. This wall on Spring Rd was part of the old Botanical Gardens. I'm sure it has been mentioned on here somewhere but these are believed to be part of original entrance gates to the Gardens.

https://goo.gl/maps/HdjVqyGTSBy

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buffaloskinner
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Location: Nova Scotia

Re: The Old Zoo

Post by buffaloskinner »

The gardens opened in 1840 and Victorian visitors paid an entrance fee to view the exotic plants, (some which may still remain), and birds and animals.

There are two castellated viewing towers in the Bear Pit on what was once the site of the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

Spiral staircases in the stone towers were climbed accessing a platform on which to safely observe the brown bear in the circular pit below. As well as a bear there were monkeys, swans and an eagle.

The gardens were laid out with ornamental flower beds, shrubberies and winding paths. There were two ponds with islands and a fountain. A conservatory displayed unusual plants from other lands.

Unfortunately, the gardens did not remain open for very long due to financial difficulties. People were possibly put off by the entrance fee of 6d (2½p) for adults and 3d (1p) for children. The Gardens were prohibited from opening until late afternoon on Sundays so as not to distract people from visiting church and chapel. In 1848 the gardens were sold to entrepreneur Thomas Clapham and he re-sold them for building plots ten years later in 1858.

There are a number of the outer walls of the gardens remaining although the main areas of interest seem to be Spring Road where the main entrance from Leeds was located, there is also the remains of the Burley entrance by the station.
Attachments
Zoo Ticket Office_ Spring Road.jpg
Zoo Ticket Office_ Spring Road.jpg (548.17 KiB) Viewed 7495 times
Spring Road Entrance.jpg
Spring Road Entrance.jpg (96.78 KiB) Viewed 7495 times
Leeds Zoological Gardens.jpg
Leeds Zoological Gardens.jpg (621.49 KiB) Viewed 7495 times
Is this the end of the story ...or the beginning of a legend?

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buffaloskinner
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Location: Nova Scotia

Re: The Old Zoo

Post by buffaloskinner »

The bear pit was in total disrepair in the 50's as seen below

Also showing the entrance for the station on the corner of Chapel Lane and Cardigan Lane
Attachments
Bear Pit 1956.jpg
Bear Pit 1956.jpg (43.73 KiB) Viewed 7495 times
Station Entrance.jpg
Station Entrance.jpg (346.69 KiB) Viewed 7495 times
Is this the end of the story ...or the beginning of a legend?

Cardiarms
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Joined: Tue 21 Oct, 2008 8:30 am

Re: The Old Zoo

Post by Cardiarms »

The gatehouse was still standing at the station entrance until the 70s. You'll be please to know that the council has granted planning permission for the developer of grove villas, (at the top of chapel lane behind the castellated old entrance) to lower the wall on chapel lane to 1m high for a length of 7m either side of the gate. Local residents are hopping mad. Council say it's unavoidable for road safety. No other entranced has required this. Council it's due to a very slight curve on the wall. They haven't proposed any plans to protect the wall from future development.
Dropped pin
near 16 Chapel Ln, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 3BW
https://goo.gl/maps/xQJ1vW8MgJ72

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uncle mick
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Re: The Old Zoo

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