Bristol and Clifton Zoological Gardens

×

Error message

  • Deprecated function: Unparenthesized `a ? b : c ? d : e` is deprecated. Use either `(a ? b : c) ? d : e` or `a ? b : (c ? d : e)` in include_once() (line 1389 of /var/www/html/otra/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Unparenthesized `a ? b : c ? d : e` is deprecated. Use either `(a ? b : c) ? d : e` or `a ? b : (c ? d : e)` in include_once() (line 1389 of /var/www/html/otra/includes/bootstrap.inc).

Other Images

Giraffe House
Historical Map (1854)
Panoramic View from the BBC #1
Panoramic View from the BBC #2
Zoo Entrance
Legend
map legend
Tag this record 

Venue Type & Location

Pleasure Gardens

Site Name: Bristol and Clifton Zoological Gardens
Location: Bristol
County: Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire
Location Type: Town - in town at determined location

Overview

  • Address: Guthrie Rd, Bristol.
    Click here for map



  • Alternate Names: Bristol Zoo Gardens (current)



  • Audience Composition: During the mid-1800s, the gardens seem to have attracted a wide variety of Bristol’s citizens.



  • Performance Space Description: The zoo is a 12 acre, outdoor site, which boasts a lake, a variety of buildings and display areas for animals, and extensive gardens. Many of the performances listed in this database may have taken place in an orchestra, described as “newly-erected” in the Bristol Mirror during August of 1848.



  • Typical Fare: Between 1842 and 1852, the zoo hosted frequent Fetes & Galas, which involved a variety of entertainments similar to those that might be found at one of the London Pleasure Gardens. In a given night, one might witness lion tamers, musicians, acrobats, archers, displays of fireworks or dissolving views, etc.



    • Performance History

  • The Bristol Zoo is the 5th oldest zoo currently in existence. It was opened in 1836, after 220 shareholders provided the funds to purchase and develop the land.



  • The zoo is still open to the public, daily.




    Please see the 'Bibliographic Sources' link at right for a complete listing of materials (both primary and secondary) from which the above information was compiled.


    Beth Marquis

    • Troupes at Bristol and Clifton Zoological Gardens

    Troupe Troupe Type # of events
    Barlow, W.R. Minstrel 2
    Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders Minstrel 1
    Ethiopian Serenaders (1851b) Minstrel 1
    Female American Serenaders Minstrel 2
    Jones, a Negro Melodist Minstrel 1
    Mackney, E.W. Minstrel 1
    Pell, G.W. Minstrel 1

    Events at Bristol and Clifton Zoological Gardens

    Event Date Venue Location Troupe
    Variety 29 May 1848 - 29 May 1848 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders
    Variety 26 June 1848 - 26 June 1848 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Female American Serenaders
    Variety 10 July 1848 - 10 July 1848 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Female American Serenaders
    Variety 31 July 1848 - 5 August 1848 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Barlow, W.R.
    Variety 21 August 1848 - 21 August 1848 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Barlow, W.R.
    Variety 28 August 1848 - 28 August 1848 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Mackney, E.W.
    Variety 11 June 1849 - 11 June 1849 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Jones, a Negro Melodist
    Variety 30 June 1851 - 30 June 1851 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Ethiopian Serenaders (1851b)
    Variety 1 June 1852 - 3 June 1852 Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Pell, G.W.

    Bibliographic Sources

    • University of Bristol, Kathleen Barker Collection. KB/4.
    • Bristol Record Office Website. 02/28/2008 (http://archives.bristol-city.gov.uk/ )

      (search ‘Zoological Gardens’)

    • Bristol Zoo Homepage. 02/28/2008 (http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/)
    • Kisling Jr., Vernon N. (ed.) . Zoo and Aquarium History. Ancient Animal Collections to Zoological Gardens. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2001.

      pp.66-7.