Zoo Graves?

D2G · Post by **D2G** » Sun 02 Nov, 2008 10:09 am

I have been meaning to post this for awhile, I know Knaresborough is slightly out of Leeds but who hasn't been taken there for a day out as a child. Anyway you may have noticed if you walk past the sculpture park that there is an arrangement of stones in the trees. I have asked people about them, googled them and all we seem to have come up with is that Knaresborough zoo was around here.There are about 20 stones altogether with a small wall around. Each with a name and some with dates on them. I don't know if these are dogs or zoo animals (I would hope not human with names such as "Buncle" and "Nidd")Does anyone have any ideas? I have posted a picture of them, the rest are on my flickr site

Si · Post by Si » Mon 03 Nov, 2008 11:40 am

Whereabouts is this site, exactly? I was taken to Knaresborough zoo when I was little, but have no idea where it was. I was told that their tiger was the one used in Esso TV ads.

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Mon 03 Nov, 2008 3:55 pm

There was a "pet cemetary" at knaresbourough zoo,with lots of little headstones I think the zoo closed down in the 80's, last time I went it was in a very sorry state and I think there were more animals in the graveyard than in the cages.There was a very moth eaten lion and the smell was horrendous.Due to financial difficulties the place had fallen into disrepair and their licence was refused.I think most of the animals had to be put down as they were so old.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Mon 03 Nov, 2008 4:11 pm

Stand at the bridge with Mother Shiption's cave main entrance on the right just before the bridge, cross it, go into the car park on the left and it was at the top of the hill in that park. There used to ba pitch and put in front of it. I went in the 80's and it was ain a very poor state.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Mon 03 Nov, 2008 11:31 pm

I have my doubts about these stones being anything to do with the Zoo -Firstly the date of '1859' as I dont think the Zoo existed back then, and secondly the name. Surely a tiger would be more imaginatively named than 'Tiger' ???? I suspect there was a big house nearby and these were the gravestones of a well-to-do family's cats and dogs. Pet cemeteries like this were by no means unusual in Victorian England, and I would guess that old 'Tiger' was a tabby cat.

D2G · Post by **D2G** » Tue 04 Nov, 2008 8:15 pm

That might be true Drapsey, there is an old house further down I think its called Conyham manor as it is situated in Conyham park. The graves are located right at the top of the park (if you walk down the path next to the sculpture park its in the trees to the left). Whats amazing is that the stones have not been vandalized after all this time. The dates are from around 1890 right up until around 1960 and I dont think the zoo was established until around 1965 and closed around 1985 but I do not know when the manor was vacated (think its now offices)There are 2 animals from the zoo in the guiness world records, one was a lion called Simba who weighed 826lb and Cassius who was a python and was measured as being 27 feet and 4 inches in length

buffaloskinner · Post by **buffaloskinner** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 10:50 pm

Blimey thats a blast from the past, used to take my daughter there when she was small.Anyway a quick google search produced the followinghttp://www.zoo-logic.co.uk/knaresboroughzoo.ht ... tle/134725

D2G · Post by **D2G** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 10:59 pm

Thats all I managed to find too, wish there were more pictures than just of the snakes. Maybe some will surface in the future, im sure there must be some hiding peoples dusty old photo albums. Somewhere in that area I think there are also what appear to be pig pens but i've forgotten exactly where (I think you go down the path towards the river). I would assume these are the remains of a farm in that area

D2G · Post by **D2G** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 11:01 pm

Has anyone who has looked at the graves in person noticed that the newer dated ones are not as well made. There is one which I think says mimi which appears to be one of the last added but you can only just read it.