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Bristol and Clifton Zoological Gardens

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Venue Type & Location

Pleasure Gardens

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

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    Barlow, W.R. Barlow, W.R. Minstrel Definite Barlow, W.R.
    Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders Hutsfield, Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders
    Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders Lee (minstrel), Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders
    Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders Saunduland, Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders
    Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders Ramsdale, Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders
    Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders Levison, Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders
    Ethiopian Serenaders (1851b) Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Serenaders (1851b)
    Female American Serenaders Womba, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Cora, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Miami, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Jumba, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Hodson, G.A. Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Yarico, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Woski, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Rosa, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Jones, a Negro Melodist Jones (minstrel), Minstrel Definite Jones, a Negro Melodist
    Mackney, E.W. Mackney, E.W. Minstrel Definite Mackney, E.W.
    Pell, G.W. Pell, Gilbert W. Minstrel Definite Pell, G.W.

    Events at Bristol and Clifton Zoological Gardens

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Pell, G.W.
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Ethiopian Serenaders (1851b)
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Jones, a Negro Melodist
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Barlow, W.R.
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Mackney, E.W.
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Female American Serenaders
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Female American Serenaders
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Barlow, W.R.
    Variety - Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders

    Bibliographic Sources

    View a list of abbreviations.

    • Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2001
      pp.66-7.
    • (search ‘Zoological Gardens’)