Belle Vue

We have also been focussing on the history of Belle View Zoological Gardens. After a couple of lectures focussing on Belle view this week I have become really interested in it and the way it holds both positive and negative memories/feelings towards it and the way some people never even knew it existed, due to a lack of history. The way that such a huge gardens can be demolished leaving no trace and not be spoke about much at all in Manchester’s history is unusual. 

Open from the 1820's up to the 1930's, Belle Vue was a huge attraction, filled with thousands of people each day from all over the country, made possible by the 4 train stations situated on the grounds. With everything from a circus and fairground too a ballroom and even a speedway track, there was something for everybody.

Belle Vue holds great family memories for people. When I questioned my Gran and Granddad about it, they spoke of how if they went their they felt like the where going on holiday, and although they can't remember it in detail they remember the scale of it and the different things available. This idea of it being like a holiday too people was very true, as back in the 1800's people would have 2 weeks holiday a year known as "whit week", the owner of Belle View at the time - Jennison, used this too his advantage and ensured Belle View was advertised in the right areas at the right time too increase popularity and custom. 

Although there is a lot of positivity when looking back on Belle Vue, there is also some negativity in terms of its collapse in the 1900's and its treatment of animals. Animals are said to have lived in very small cages for their size, including lions, giraffes, bears etc and many where made too perform/dress up. They were nervous animals due to the firework shows at the gardens each night, and only had about a 6 week life span which is disgusting in comparison to what their expected life span should have been.