As the running theme of Unit X is funfairs Manchester
School of Art organised talks and an archive visit about the old Belle-Vue
Zoological Gardens. The park was also an amusement park, exhibition hall complex and speedway stadium from the years 1836 – 1987. The park was
a main point of tourism in the North for many years and families travelled from
all over the country to spend their holidays and their much saved money for an
excursion they would cherish for the whole year.
The lecture with Claire
Turner first off gave us a great initial background to the world of Belle Vue;
the amusement park, which was once “Bigger than Disneyland”, now remains as
nothing but a race ground. The glitz and glamour attracting so many families
for so many years faded and the fairground is long gone.
What interests me most
about the Belle Vue grounds is the treatment of the animals within the
zoological gardens. A dressed up monkey named ‘Consul’ was a five year old
chimp, who came with smoking pipe, pin stripe suit and tricycle included; he
was also partial to a glass of whiskey or 2. Although, Belle Vue’s treatement
and upkeep of the animals was atrocious and animals never lasted much longer
than a few months at a time. Consul soon died, and was secretly replaced with ‘Consul
2’, who eventually sparked curiosity when he was unable to ride a tricycle like
his predecessor. All in all ‘Consul 2’ was not so family friendly, and was
described as a “vicious little shit”.
We also had a valuable
trip to the Cheetham Library which
opened up their Belle Vue archive for us to explore, which was filled with
interesting photos, posters and pamphlets concerning the park. I was definitely
drawn to the pictures of Consul in his little pin stripped suit.
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