what was the bear pit in the botanicle gardens used for? :huh:

Bears, hence the name
This is a Grade II listed building, built in 1836. The Bear Pit housed two bears until the 1870's when they were removed, following an incident when a child fell into the pit and was killed.
http://www.sbg.org.uk/bear.asp

what was the bear pit in the botanicle gardens used for? :huh:

What do you think they were used for? Do you perhaps think the answer might be in the name?

What do you think they were used for? Do you perhaps think the answer might be in the name?

Bear pit 01 (http://www.sheffieldphotos.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3837)
Bear pit 02 (http://www.sheffieldphotos.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3833)
What for keeping Bears or was this actually used for Bear baiting then?
I would say that's what the OP is asking.

Bear pit 01 (http://www.sheffieldphotos.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3837)
Bear pit 02 (http://www.sheffieldphotos.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3833)
What for keeping Bears or was this actually used for Bear baiting then?
I would say that's what the OP is asking.

Is that a real bear in pic 1? :D

what was the bear pit in the botanicle gardens used for? :huh:

I didnt know that bears were used to mine coal!

i remember the bear pit in botanical gardens when i was six or seven, we at springfield school in classes two or three two teachers would take us for this treat to the botanical gardens, and the area around the bear pit, we were free to play in the area as it was the only fresh air we had as there was little greenery where we all lived. the bear pit was half full of dead leaves i recall this was around 1944/5. we would walk from school along broomhall street past st silas church right to park lane up to clarkhouse rd turn left along clarkhouse rd to botanical gardens. on the return the children would be let to go home on the way back to school
ps none went missing it must have been a good two mile walk there and back.

I had to smile about the description of the bear in the Bear Pit.

'January 2005 a mild steel sculpture of a bear (2.4m tall) was installed, to remind people of the former use of this structure. The bear was originally a pale silver grey colour, but the sculptor wanted the metal to rust naturally. He therefore treated the statue with acetic acid, and now, with the added influence of a traditional English summer, the bear is an interesting and very realistic grizzly-brown colour.'

I doubt very much if the writer of the article or the scultor has ever seen a Grizzly Bear, the bear looks more Stieff than Grizzly. I took some wedding reception pictures of the wedding guests grouping around the bear and the pictures raised more laughs than ooh ha's.

What do you forummers think?

PopT

what was the bear pit in the botanicle gardens used for? :huh:

to keep 2 bears in dude! haha! just found out today :)

I was always lead to believe that it was for bear baiting against dogs which the spectators could make bets upon the outcome.

No, bear baiting was banned the year before the BG's opened.

In the 60's I worked athe Rating office on Westbourne Rd (later to be Radio Sheffield) at lunchtimes we walked down to the BG, the bear Pit used to make me feel ill, thinking of it's former use! I remember the macaws in the pavilion that used to walked accross your chest! Happy days!!!

them two bears are gone