i used to get taken there as a kid by mi grom,i think it was in manchester,if my memory serves me correctly it was a fun fair and a zoo,my only memory of it is a big glass case as you went in with 2 or maybe three wax works models,one was being beheaded by the others,i was only about 4 or 5 ans was scared to death of em......anyone got any photo's of the place.

I remember going there quite a lot when I was a kid. It was in Manchester in the Hyde area

Lots of pictures here

http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/introcomments.html

Originally posted by Knoxville
I remember going there quite a lot when I was a kid. It was in Manchester in the Hyde area

Lots of pictures here

http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/introcomments.html

whoa! cheers our kid will have a good luck at that later:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I used to go to Belle Vue a lot as a kid too. I think it was were there's now a multi-screen cinema, as you head into manchester from glossop direction.

There was a zoo, a fun fair, a big hall were they used to hold events like wrestling (which is why I was there - my mum and dad used to go all over watching wrestling in the 70's), and a speedway track.

I used to go to in the 70's, my main memory is the Water Chute (http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/rides/waterchute2.jpg)

It was near to the entrance.

The new Man City Ground is very close to where the Belle Vue park and zoo used to be .

I went to Blackpool every year with my grandparents when I was a kid.

We used to drive past Bellevue and I would look longingly at the funfair but was told there was a 'better funfair at Blackpool' (Pleasure Beach)

Unfortunatly I never got to find out cos by the time I was old enough to get there under my own steam the place had closed down.

One memory though - there was some sort of roller coaster/wild mouse type ride near the entracne and I am sure it had a plaque on it saying that some one held the record for the fastest ride ever.

Can anyone remember that???

I was raised in Hyde so Belle Vue was only a bus ride away. Distant memories of day trips there with my parents about 35 years ago.
The rollercoaster was called "The Bobs". Back in the 60's it used to be in the Guiness Book of Records as the fastest switchback in the world. The water chute was great fun and I remember the "Shoot the Rapids" ride. There's nothing left of it now except the speedway and greyhound track.

Ignore my last question - I just read the excellent link provided by a previous poster on Bellevue and in the section on 'The Bob' it states that at one time this coaster got a mention in the Guiness Book of Records

does anyone remember the wax works figures? i'd love to see a picture of them as i as terrified of them....unfortunatley they are not on the bellvue site.

i remember belle view i went once aged around 8 years old with my parents. As we were viewing the baby elephant some one gave it an apple and it started choking on it.i It was very distressing esp to me as a youngster.The poor elephant was struggling to breathe wavng its trunk around making an horrible squealing noise...its a day i remember.not for the good though.....and it smelled terrible!! im glad things have improved at what few zoos there are left.....though i dont personally agree with them.:(

I have some nice far away memories of Belle vue, when me and my sis went to stay with my Gran in Hyde. The main thing I can remember is the the water chute, it seemed enormous and scary, I must have only been very young.

hi my memories of belle vue will always be the bobs switchback and a sidestall which used to have like huge spring loaded cannons ( well huge to small kid at that time ) they used to fire like a mop ball at stacked cans never did hit em, ( well hit em but they didn`t go down )

Ignore my last question - I just read the excellent link provided by a previous poster on Bellevue and in the section on 'The Bob' it states that at one time this coaster got a mention in the Guiness Book of Records


I went on The Bobs several time and each time was scared. In those days they must have been the b and end all of Big Dippers. I also went on 'Shoot The Rapids'. That was brilliant. Does anyone remember the ride called 'Popeye' aka 'The Moon Rocket?' Great days out.

Went to the speedway on a Good friday then went into the Zooalogical gardens. My other half went to a fortune teller who said that it would be years before shee would get married and would have one child. It was a long time because we got married the following day and have 2 boys.

I used to love going to Belle Vue when I was a kid. Last time I went was 1960ish when I got my "soon to be husband" to take me so I could show him....he'd never been.
Worst thing about it was having to go over the Snake Pass to get there:gag:

I remember my mum and dad taking me when I was a child, must have been around 1946/47 I particularly remember one of the rides was called Over the Falls, you sat in like a cabin after climbing this staicase, once inside the cabin the doors flew open the seat colapsed on to what was like a long canvas type material surface with rollers under it and you got thrown about till you reached the the bottom, caused a lot of laughs,especially for the people stood watching.

I don't really remember the fair or the zoo but in the mid-70s my mum and dad used to take me to see the wrestling there (dad used to be a timekeeper- "seconds away, round one" and all that).

I can remember being about 3 or 4 standing outside the venue and being terrified at how loud the speedway sounded!

I remember going to Belle Vue in the 50s .My mam used to run coach trips. I remember going round the zoo,the fairground rides and watching the firework display. But the most hairaising ride was the trip back over the snake:o in the owd charrabang:hihi:

At the Fair I remember a little booth where you could "cut a record" My sister & I made vinyl single of singing nursery rhymes in around 1965. Its probably in a box in the loft somewhere.

Wasn't there a speedway "wall of Death" or was that at Blackpool?

we used to go in the early sixties great days the all street would go

I went to Blackpool every year with my grandparents when I was a kid.
We used to drive past Bellevue and I would look longingly at the funfair but was told there was a 'better funfair at Blackpool' (Pleasure Beach)
Unfortunatly I never got to find out cos by the time I was old enough to get there under my own steam the place had closed down.
One memory though - there was some sort of roller coaster/wild mouse type ride near the entracne and I am sure it had a plaque on it saying that some one held the record for the fastest ride ever.
Can anyone remember that???


Hello docmel.
was it called BOBS and was it built on a wooden structure. if so then my husband remembers it, as his uncle Bill Baxter was one of the head keepers there. Not many people will know this, but if you remember the series "ONE BY ONE" about a head keeper in a zoo , on the tv back in the 70's and 80's then that was portrayed at bellevue but called northern zoo. Pddy, the head keeper, took the role of Bill Baxter.

bobs big dipper, one of the elder kids on the street trip we had ,when the car
got to the big drop stood up & shouted kalamacooya .the bloke that was running the rides clipped him when he got off,after calling him some few choice names.

I think the one & only Birley school trip (1960's) used to be to Belle Vue Zoo, cant remember if it was infants or juniors though. I wasnt able to go as I used to get too travel sick!

My first memory of Belle Vue Zoo includes a large red rock with monkeys running all over it.

I remember that they had a Hippo there and they fed it full cabbages and the water it was in was filthy. It was a very good thing when it was closed down.

Belle Vue is a classic example of councils lack of brain it was owned or controlled by manchester city council and there only interest was taking money if the money had been reinvested and the place was able to keep track of the times belle vue would have been a excellent theme park it was very badly run in them days even though it was a goldmine

My mother used to take me every year.

My very first coaster ride as a youngster in the thirties was on the Bobs. Scared the pants off of me. I went on again with my two young nephews in the 50s, and when the ride had finished they wanted another go. Boy, did I feel like a chicken. It was a great place to go. The speedway racing was a lot of fun. I used to think Manchester was a fantastic place in those days, the classy downtown, red buses, and the Bike racing at Fallowfield.

I remember Belle Vue in the late 1960's. The Bobs was at one time in the Guinness Book of Records as being the fastest big dipper around. I used to take the ''Wimps'' option - the Scenic Railway, which was fast enough for me.
I also recall that there was a flea cicus.

I remember my mum and dad taking me when I was a child, must have been around 1946/47 I particularly remember one of the rides was called Over the Falls, you sat in like a cabin after climbing this staicase, once inside the cabin the doors flew open the seat colapsed on to what was like a long canvas type material surface with rollers under it and you got thrown about till you reached the the bottom, caused a lot of laughs,especially for the people stood watching.


It was Shoot The Rapids in later years - a fantastic ride

I remember going there quite a lot when I was a kid. It was in Manchester in the Hyde area

Lots of pictures here

http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/introcomments.html

It was actually in Gorton, Manchester. Hyde is a town in Tameside, Greater Manchester. It was bounded by Hyde Road (main road to Hyde) and Kirkmanshulme Lane. In the early 1800s it was the site of Manchester’s largest prison.

It was started by entrepreneur John Dennison who began with a tea garden and worked his way up. King’s Hall in Belle Vue was the place for big fights and other large events. The “Bobs” was at one time Britain’s fasted switchback. It was so called because it cost one shilling (a bob) per ride.

I can remember that the rollercoaster was called "The Bobs" don't know why, but I loved it. My Aunte and uncle use to take me when I was about 5/6 years old.. I have photo somewhere of me and a cousin stood in front of a painting iof a tiger, which I think was on the side of one of the rides. Happy days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My memories of Belle Vue are going to the Speedway every Saturday night to watch the Belle Vue Aces, the top team in the fifties and sixties,with many great stars including the late great Peter Craven,(rest in peace Peter and thanks for the memories.)
When the meeting was over there was free entrance into the fair so we always took the opportunity, and we too went the the Flea Circus and the other attractions, and always have fish and chips before setting of back home.
Can anyone remember going to wrestling there?with the referee, Dick the Doormouse a huge man in white athletic vest and trousers and if there was any show of slow handclapping by the crowd for any reason he would stop the bout call for "lights" until the clapping stopped.I think his Wife was the promoter

I have a memory of being taken to Belle Vue in the early/mid-1950's. Whilst my recollection s not very good, I seem to recall the Fair, and particularly the "Wall of Death" where a couple of speedway-type bike riders rode around a small circular wooden-planked vertical wall.

They started at the bottom and gathered speed quickly around the inner walls rising to the top. Of course by this time they were sitting at 90 degrees to the vertical wall.

All the spectators looked downwards from the top and spectators were looking down on the spectacle, protected by a heavyweight mesh screen. The riders came back down by decelerating and gradually reached the bottom safely.

One other thing, and I think it was at Belle Vue, was "The Rotor". This was a vertical revolving drum. The public walked into the "ride", stood against the wall of the drum. As the drum r.p.m rose, the centrifugal forces pinned them to the wall of the "drum". The daring ones edged their way up the wall.

I must be getting old, I hope this rings a bell for someone.....the Belle Vue trip was a rare, late evening out for my two brothers and I at that time.:)

Hi sunshine I am old too, Iremember these things, the wall of death was great to kids ,also the rotor , Iam surprised no one has mentioned THE GHOST TRAIN ,REMEMBER BEING REALLY SCARED AS A KID CHEERS ARTHUR.

There is a good local history booklet about Bell View. I borrowed this last year from my brother in law who lives in Manchester.
I could possibly find the publisher etc. if any one is inerested

All good stuff about the good old days at "the Zoo" We would go often from Sheffield on day trips in the early to mid 50's, although many of my memories relate to it raining every time we were there wasn't there a fancy Hotel around there called the Palm Court, or something Hotel??

All good stuff about the good old days at "the Zoo" We would go often from Sheffield on day trips in the early to mid 50's, although many of my memories relate to it raining every time we were there wasn't there a fancy Hotel around there called the Palm Court, or something Hotel??


Was that it on the corner of Kirkyhulme lane and Hyde road it had a turret.

I had forgotton about it and only remembered on my way to a business meeting at Trafford Park a few years ago. I spotted the entrance gates straight away, can't remember what it is now used for, if anything. The surrounding area was in a very sorry state, sad really.

my better half and me can remember "The Fun House " at Belle view, I think it cost 2/6 (12 and a half pence ) and you could stop in all day and not be bored, and all the other attractions that have been mentioned. There used to be a" Fun House" at Blackpool pleasure beach also.
Happy times and cheap !

I vaguely remember going there in the mid-1970s which must have been shortly before it closed for good. I'd guess it was 1976 although it could have been earlier.

I too feel sorry for its demise feeling it to be another opportunity missed. I guess that, because I associate it with my childhood I feel quite affectionate toward the place - even though my memories of it are on the thin side.

Like the outdoor swimming pool beside the Rising Sun on the Hathersage to Castleton road, it's a fading memory of another age and time and thus one I keep close to my heart.

My only memories of Belle Vue are when my Dad used to take us to see the Stock Car Racing , we always went to support his cousin Willie Harrison. Great memories but SUCH a long time ago.

use to take my kids there when they was little got lots of photo

I once took my two kids there for a dayout and it was a day they always remember, we still have photographs from then.

There seemed to be everything there for them.

Just as a matter of interest the Outibridge Brass Band won the band championship at Belle Vue and shortly afterwards became the Outibridge Silver Prize Band.

My Father and his brother played in that band at that time, I think the year was 1932 but I maybe a year or so out.

Maybe someone could give me more details, it would be greatly appreciated.

PS. Posting from Bangkok

Happy Days!

We used to go on Saturday nights, there was a good dance there.

Can anyone remember the Polar bear who used to swing its head from side to side? I realise now it was boredom, but in those days no one seemed to bother. Also I used to watch Sheffield Tigers race against Belle Vue Aces and it was always a horible journey back to Sheffield over the Woodhead. It was always foggy!!!!!!!!!!!!! or so it seemed.

Remember the Zoo and a Hippo called Nikki ? Also the water chute

When Belle Vue zoo first opened in the 1840/50's it got most of it's animals from a zoo in Brought, Salford that was closing down at the time.
I have lots of happy memories of going to Belle Vue in the 50's, we would go for the day out during the 6 weeks holidays. Often on a coach but also by train, which was always a treat. Yes it was always foggy on the way home over Woodhead.
I remember the flea circus and was always facinated how they managed to make all those tiny chariots they pulled etc. The water chute was good, but we always got wet! Loved the Ghost Train too, but my favourite was always the zoo. Belle Vue always seemed enormous to me as a small child, it was only years later when I lived in Manchester and used to drive past it often that I realised how small it was.
There is now a multiplex cinema on the site.

Marion

Whilst my dad was seconded to the Territorial Army, we lived on Belle Vue St which leads up to Hyde Road, on which Belle Vue was located.

Looking out of my bedroom window you would see the roller coaster which I think were called "The Bobs"

Used to go regularly and remember the "Tigon" A cross bred Tiger and Lion which was there somewhere between 1964 and 1967

did everyone know the lake at belle vue still has water in it ? i no because i work on the site ( gala bingo) we always get flooded underneath the club

Just been looking at the pics and read about something that brought memories back. It was called "Shoot the Rapids" and you went up some stairs and eventually reached a door. The guy let you in, and you sat on a seat made of rollers. When he closed the door the seat straightened out so you slid off, and the wall in front of you opened up. You then went head over heels down a steep sort of conveyor belt that was supposed so simulate "shooting the rapids". At the bottom you landed in a heap on a big padded area. Great sense of shock and surprise the first time you tried it, but it was fun and me and a mate went on it twice, then spent some time telling the girls outside that it was nothing to worry about and they should go on. You could hear the screams from about 300 yds away.
Not sure Health and Safety would allow it to happen now.

Remember the Zoo and a Hippo called Nikki ? Also the water chute

I had begun to think this place was a figment of my imagination- but no, it definately did exist and I rememeber going once on a trip when I was very small.
I do remember the hippo- and also a story that it had swallowed its mother!!! This memory is very vivid to me so I'm sure I'm not making it up- anyone else know this story?

I remember it..not too well tho because I was very very young when my parents took me. My mum took me on the wheel (she says' I personally don't remember) and I was apparently terrified, and she was but she had to hold on to me because I was so scared.....
I do remember the water chute tho.

Ah yes I remember it well especially the speedway.I used to be a cycle speedway rider back when with the Gorton Pirates, but our track was in Reddish near the secondary school.Motor cycle speedway rider Peter Craven was a friend of mine, RIP Peter.After the Aces meets we used to go to one of the Belle Vue dance halls,I can't remember the names of them but I think there were two or three.I remember the saxophone was prominent then and now my eldest son plays one for a hobby. I remember the distinctive smell of the burning oil that the bikes used and the song "A White Sportscoat"that was popular at that time and it seemed like it was played week after week after week!I think the DJ must have liked it:).The" Wall of Death" was one of my favorite Belle Vue attractions.Thank you to a previous poster for reminding me of it.It seems to me that the Bobs was dismantled,sold to the USA and reassembled,perhaps someone could verify that.
Cheers from Oliver the wine capital of Canada.David.

I've got some pictures of me as a young child (2 or 3) at BellVue. Don't remember anything about it alas. :(

All I can remember is the big red-painted grandstand of the stadium...

Hi Vague_ Boy. Belle Vue was quite something in its day.I suggest you Google it as it will probably jog some pleasant memories of your younger years.I'm pretty sure there will be lots of pics and articles on line.Good to reply to you.Would stick arround but its ten to one in the morning herezzzzz.So to each a good night or morning which ever it maybe .Will share memories again.Out.

I remember going there with my mate next door with a couple of girl friends back in July 1963 between leaving school and starting work. It used to be very popular back then.

I only wish I knew then what I know now :(

Hi Nodens.What do you know now that you didn't know then? You're leaving us with a cliffhanger.:D

i used to get taken there as a kid by mi grom,i think it was in manchester,if my memory serves me correctly it was a fun fair and a zoo,my only memory of it is a big glass case as you went in with 2 or maybe three wax works models,one was being beheaded by the others,i was only about 4 or 5 ans was scared to death of em......anyone got any photo's of the place.

Many years ago I used to go to see Sheffied Tigers speedway team at owlerton, the only away meeting I used to go to was at Bellview where after the meeting, you had free acess to the fair.
The wooden big dipper used to scare the poo out of me especially because it was dark and the wooden structure used to rattle and vibrate like *****.

I went to Blackpool every year with my grandparents when I was a kid.

We used to drive past Bellevue and I would look longingly at the funfair but was told there was a 'better funfair at Blackpool' (Pleasure Beach)

Unfortunatly I never got to find out cos by the time I was old enough to get there under my own steam the place had closed down.

One memory though - there was some sort of roller coaster/wild mouse type ride near the entracne and I am sure it had a plaque on it saying that some one held the record for the fastest ride ever.

Can anyone remember that???

Did you go to Blackpool in a charabanc?

Did you go to Blackpool in a charabanc?By the 1950s when I was going to Blackpool the coaches had roofs and windows, but a lot of people still called them "charas". This 1931 map (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/Belle_Vue_Zoo_map.png) of Belle Vue has a "chara and motor car entrance" though by the 1930s open-backed charabancs were probably rarities. The roller-coaster that docmel remembers is perhaps this one (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/475457802_3d04d4cf31.jpg) - I well remember the water splash.

I used to love going to Belle Vue. My favourite was 'over the falls'
I took my own kids there in 1965. Times were tough then. I had an old car but it wasn't taxed. I risked it and took them there from Sheffield. I sweat buckets everytime I saw a bobby. You wouldn't get away with that today.

Hi all, remember Belle Vue very well, used to go to speedway to watch the Tigers when they took on Belle Vue then after that we used to go round the fair and zoo it was brilliant, the fireworks display was also very good. The journey over snake pass from Sheffield was an experience cause dad used to take us in his works lorry, fond memories of Belle Vue.

I remember seeing the 'Wall of Death' as a young 'un ..also went to quite a few Gigs in the Kings Hall (last one was The Flamin Groovies in 72 )...:hihi:

I remember seeing the 'Wall of Death' as a young 'un ..also went to quite a few Gigs in the Kings Hall (last one was The Flamin Groovies in 72 )...:hihi:

believe it or not mate i've played the kings hall a few times along with your uncle tommy back in the early/mid 70's, back in my brass band days. we always had a good day out at bell vue. that lancashire beer was never up to much though:gag::hihi:

I went to Blackpool every year with my grandparents when I was a kid.

We used to drive past Bellevue and I would look longingly at the funfair but was told there was a 'better funfair at Blackpool' (Pleasure Beach)

Unfortunatly I never got to find out cos by the time I was old enough to get there under my own steam the place had closed down.

One memory though - there was some sort of roller coaster/wild mouse type ride near the entracne and I am sure it had a plaque on it saying that some one held the record for the fastest ride ever.

Can anyone remember that???

Having an Auntie who lived in Marton - a suburb of Blackpool, we would frequently travel from Sheffield via the Snake Pass to visit her in the 40's &
50's. One of the highlights of the journey was to see Belle Vue and especially the 'Bobs' which were right next to the main road. Never did stop to visit but the big dipper or switchback, as it was known, looked thrilling to a young lad. Nothing ever looked as steep until the modern steel constructed rides came on the scene. The price for the 'Bobs' I believe was a tanner and my Dad used to say that it was advertised as 3d for the ride and 3d for insurance 'cause it was so dangerous!

We used to drive over on Saturday nights to watch the wrestling,Les Kellet and co plus "dirty Alf Rawlings"

believe it or not mate i've played the kings hall a few times along with your uncle tommy back in the early/mid 70's, back in my brass band days. we always had a good day out at bell vue. that lancashire beer was never up to much though:gag::hihi:
Eighup Syca...that completely slipped mi' mind , i went on a few trips wi' Ecco Brass Band (including Kings Hall ) ..but ..after watching Ecco play , i'd usually shoot off for a couple o' pints ( Wilsons Great Northern Bitter :gag: ) ..:hihi:

Eighup Syca...that completely slipped mi' mind , i went on a few trips wi' Ecco Brass Band (including Kings Hall ) ..but ..after watching Ecco play , i'd usually shoot off for a couple o' pints ( Wilsons Great Northern Bitter :gag: ) ..:hihi:

We used to go to Bell Vue to watch Sheffield Tigers race against Bell Vue Aces at the speedway and after everyone was let into the fairground for free.
Didn't the big dipper rattle like the clappers when the whole wooden structure used shake.

I remember going to the zoo to see the Tigon.A cross between a lion and a tiger.In the late 40s.

I remember going to the zoo to see the Tigon.A cross between a lion and a tiger.In the late 40s.

Are you sure it wasn't a liger?

Could be,the memory fades with age.:hihi:

We used to go to speedway at Bell View back in 1939 every saturday night onthe motor bikes. great days

Anyone else go on a BR excursion from Victoria to "Ashburys for Belle Vue" & then walk down the lane? The lane's a busy dual carriageway now, the Woodhead line electric trains only come as far as Hadfield & the station's just plain "Ashburys". Don't suppose "Ashburys for the car auctions" would have quite the same ring----

We also arrived a couple of times by 210 trolleybus. I remember The Bobs well. In its later days the track got "threepenny bit" syndrome & you were jerked all over. I'll never forget the pong of the tiger cage either.

By the way, don't tell them from Hyde it's in Greater Manchester. 36 years on it may be but there's a lot'll still tell you VERY firmly it's in Cheshire!

Used to be taken by me mam in the '50's. Best day out of the year. I was sad to see it go but you move with the times. Went again much later to the Speedway, you could see the rubble of the old zoo-park, it was sad to see.

The 'Bobs' were lethal in their time. Went on them many times. I used to go go to the Speedway too. There was an entrance from the speedway direct into the funfair.

The 'Bobs' were lethal in their time. Went on them many times. I used to go go to the Speedway too. There was an entrance from the speedway direct into the funfair.

I went on The Bobs several time and each time was scared.

No shame in being scared of the Bobs. At one time it was in the record books as being the fastest 'Big Dipper' in the world.

yes my dad worked there as an engineer and we all got in for free. My sister and aunt used to works in Kings hall where they had big events

I remember going over in the 1960s and seeing Jimmy Saville doing his show. The record I remember him playing was My Guy by Mary Wells.

I went loads of times in the 50's with me mates on the steam train via Woodhead tunnel. The train journey itself was a revelation. Happy days!

I used to go a lot with my dad....the one and only time I saw a flea circus was there. I also remember the Wall of death and the watersplash ride....great fun I wish it was there for me to take my grandkids to!

I used to go a lot with my dad....the one and only time I saw a flea circus was there. I also remember the Wall of death and the watersplash ride....great fun I wish it was there for me to take my grandkids to! so do i i used to go to belle vue speedway but before the match we used to go to the funfair and zoo, i remember the bobs and the flea circus, and shoot the rapids where i broke my finger. also the wall of death.

Talking of Flea Circus, I saw Michael Bentine with his flea circus at the Cavendish Club on Bank Street, Sheffield ( A few years ago mind) We were sitting to the side of the stage and could see him twiddling the control levers. Mind you it takes years to train a flea! It makes me itch when I walk round a flea market!