Remember it..........i went when it opened in i think 1951 it opened at the same time as the festival of Britian. In those days it was wonderful, but now with all the theme parks you can visit, it just wouldnt work.
I bunked off school with two friends (c.1968 ) and we went for a day out at the funfair. The highspot of our day was putting money in a lucky dip 'machine', only to discover that the 'machine' was actually manned by a (rather tasty as I recall) young man who sat inside it for hours on end! We had huge fun that day.
Does Battersea zoo still exist, with all those cute farm animals, wallabies and meerkats?
Haven't been since '98.
Yes the childrens Zoo is still there it nearly closed a few years ago and they started selling the animals but Wandsworth Council had a change of heart after a petition - in fact I was thinking of going over the weekend I live in Clapham
I bunked off school with two friends (c.1968 ) and we went for a day out at the funfair. The highspot of our day was putting money in a lucky dip 'machine', only to discover that the 'machine' was actually manned by a (rather tasty as I recall) young man who sat inside it for hours on end! We had huge fun that day.
We realised that there was a person, in these as well, and used to push the flap open and shout in, then run away., well when your 9 its funny anyway.
i worked there in 1973 and 74 the year it closed, am currently trying to find and contact any one who worked there in the 1970.s you were obviously very familiar with the layout of the funfair rob, did you work there !
Was there Helta Skelta there? I just about remember being petrified going on it.
I used to live in Battersea in Elsley Road until 1976 and have great memories too of the park; my local playground. The tree walk was really unique and I always felt sad when they eventually closed it; I believe it was transferred to Caister Castle back in the eighties. (I'd love to know if it's still there as I visited the area around that period but it had restricted opening times in May I seem to recall).
I remember things like illuminated owls amongst the treetops; really magical when you were a child.
As for the famous Big Dipper, I remember my Mum saying how she thought it was dangerous and forbid me to go on it. Luckily I adhered to her wishes and never forget her pointing out the "stop press" on the back of the newspaper that fateful day of the accident when we were ironically at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. We did, however, ride the Water Chute which I loved; didn't realise for years after though that the structure was rebuilt at Margate's Dreamland Park around 1977 when I moved to Kent. The wooden structure had to be rebuilt in steel however owing to previous apparent fire damage. Strangely now though, after Battersea's ill-fated incident I now love roller coasters and really enjoy travelling to every theme park I can venture to!
Oh my goodness! The boating lake with the ship-like ticket office. The pyramid-shaped fountains with the curly bits on top. Significant parts of my memory have just been reactivated, thank you so much!
In answer to another, no didn't work there but lived near-ish.
My mum wouldn't allow me to visit the amusement arcade near the Guinness Clock, which of course made it all the more attractive.
Oh and the open-air concert hall with free shows for kids on summer afternoons, wow.
I remember the tree walk in Battersea Park, I bet Health and Safety would have a field day, if that was still in place!
You've just solved a big mystery for me. I remember going to Battersea Fun Fair as a child. We lived in Peckham so wasn't that far away. I have memories of coming down a tall open spiral staircase from somewhere up high after coming along walkways. Guess that was the Treewalk. I have always wondered about it and know I didn't imagine it. I'm glad to finally know after all these years that there really was a place high up and the stairs were real:D
I couldn't wait to be old enough to go - and by the time I was old enough, it had shut
That is random! I never even knew Battersea had a fair let alone wanted to go there, so i'm pretty certain I didn't make that comment in 2009. How weird!:eek:
I remember Battersea Funfair and I loved it. I loved the water chute:cool:, the crazy house and the Guiness time clock. People used to sell toy monkeys outside - I never got one, sod it.
That is random! I never even knew Battersea had a fair let alone wanted to go there, so i'm pretty certain I didn't make that comment in 2009. How weird!:eek:
Yes I remember Battersea Fun Fair... I worked there for ten years full time and two years part time... In fact I still have a couple of my staff passes... I loved it !!!
Most of the lads that worked on the rides were gypsies.. the side stalls were run by actors that were "resting"... In other words they were out of work at the time...
It was the most interesting place to work.. believe me, you certainly saw life...
There were films, Television adverts etc made there either before we opened at 11am or after we closed in the evening..
I was going to answer the question about the childrens zoo but read the rest of the posts before I did so, good job I did I had already answered the question IN 2009
Must remember to look at posting dates before I spend all my time and energy reading stuff from 3 BLEDDY YEARS AGO
Comments
Why the rolled eyes?
Yes the childrens Zoo is still there it nearly closed a few years ago and they started selling the animals but Wandsworth Council had a change of heart after a petition - in fact I was thinking of going over the weekend I live in Clapham
I think it was towards the west end. Figure it out from this aerial shot:
http://www.parkexplorer.org.uk/images/activities/wnd04_map.jpg
We realised that there was a person, in these as well, and used to push the flap open and shout in, then run away., well when your 9 its funny anyway.
Was there Helta Skelta there? I just about remember being petrified going on it.
I used to live in Battersea in Elsley Road until 1976 and have great memories too of the park; my local playground. The tree walk was really unique and I always felt sad when they eventually closed it; I believe it was transferred to Caister Castle back in the eighties. (I'd love to know if it's still there as I visited the area around that period but it had restricted opening times in May I seem to recall).
You can go back down memory lane here to view the awesome tree walk; http://newscdn.bbc.net.uk/local/london/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8269000/8269406.stm
I remember things like illuminated owls amongst the treetops; really magical when you were a child.
As for the famous Big Dipper, I remember my Mum saying how she thought it was dangerous and forbid me to go on it. Luckily I adhered to her wishes and never forget her pointing out the "stop press" on the back of the newspaper that fateful day of the accident when we were ironically at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. We did, however, ride the Water Chute which I loved; didn't realise for years after though that the structure was rebuilt at Margate's Dreamland Park around 1977 when I moved to Kent. The wooden structure had to be rebuilt in steel however owing to previous apparent fire damage. Strangely now though, after Battersea's ill-fated incident I now love roller coasters and really enjoy travelling to every theme park I can venture to!
Martin Porter
Googlemaps -- between North Carriage Drive and the white building.
Oh my goodness! The boating lake with the ship-like ticket office. The pyramid-shaped fountains with the curly bits on top. Significant parts of my memory have just been reactivated, thank you so much!
In answer to another, no didn't work there but lived near-ish.
My mum wouldn't allow me to visit the amusement arcade near the Guinness Clock, which of course made it all the more attractive.
Oh and the open-air concert hall with free shows for kids on summer afternoons, wow.
And being chased by the Park keeper for walking on the grass
GPW (Hancock)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/bankholidays/7124.shtml
You've just solved a big mystery for me. I remember going to Battersea Fun Fair as a child. We lived in Peckham so wasn't that far away. I have memories of coming down a tall open spiral staircase from somewhere up high after coming along walkways. Guess that was the Treewalk. I have always wondered about it and know I didn't imagine it. I'm glad to finally know after all these years that there really was a place high up and the stairs were real:D
I'm not so sure - I remember the tree walk, and I was reminded of it this year when I visited Kew Gardens and found they have one very much like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82ndBX8x52o&feature=related
That is random! I never even knew Battersea had a fair let alone wanted to go there, so i'm pretty certain I didn't make that comment in 2009. How weird!:eek:
Getting old
Most of the lads that worked on the rides were gypsies.. the side stalls were run by actors that were "resting"... In other words they were out of work at the time...
It was the most interesting place to work.. believe me, you certainly saw life...
There were films, Television adverts etc made there either before we opened at 11am or after we closed in the evening..
Must remember to look at posting dates before I spend all my time and energy reading stuff from 3 BLEDDY YEARS AGO