Zoo

Belle Vue Zoo was both a spectator attraction and a visitor experience and perhaps the most continuous allure was the ride on the Jungle Express. Children could also go for rides on the camels, llamas, goats and ponies with the camels pulling upwards of 6 to 8 children in an ingenious contraption. Other visitor attractions, in particular The Reptile House which opened in 1926, were not so necessarily photogenic, but still an essential part of the collections.

All types of species could be found at Belle Vue Zoo with elephants, baboons, and hippopotamus alongside camels, deer and miniature ponies.

Belle Vue Zoo

Memorable trip to the monkey house

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Map of Belle Vue

Programme from 1960's

Map of Belle Vue from the 1960's

Coffee can

Object from 1904-1924

Coffee can, bone china, decorated with black transfer-printed lake scene from Belle Vue Zoological Gardens. Text reads "The Lake. Belle Vue. Manchester".

Model zoo animals

Object from Victorian era

Victorian zoo models

The Disputed Toll

Painting from 1875 (circa)

The Disputed Toll by Heywood Hardy

Belle Vue Scrapbook

Object

Belle Vue scrapbook

Teapot

Object from 1905-1910

Teapot, hard paste porcelain, decorated with black transfer-printed scenes from Belle Vue Zoological Gardens; Flower Garden, Monkey House and Bear Pits

Animals and the circus

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Skeleton of Asian Elephant

Object

Skeleton of Asian Elephant

Broadside advertisement

Programme from 1848

Broadside advertising Zoological Gardens at Belle Vue, 1848

Elephant rides

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Looking back at Belle Vue

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Rally Report

Photo from June 1943

Evacuee rally report from June 1943

Rally ticket

Object from June 1943

Ticket from June 1943 Channel Islanders rally

Penguin egg timer

Object

Penguin egg timer

Chimpanzee and Keeper

Photo from 1946

Photo of chimpanzee and keeper, 1946

Belle Vue painting

Object

Painting of Belle Vue

A bear ate my shoe

Object from 1929

A bear ate my shoe.

Count Maximilliam Lizard the Third

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Jonah the Great Whale

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Happy memories of elephants

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Zoo smells

Oral history

Jane and Frank during Oral History training

Belle Vue advertising board

Object

Advertising board from Bele Vue

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