Parks and gardens
Halifax zoo
The animals came in two by two
It may come as a surprise to some, but in the early part of the twentieth century, Halifax had its own zoo and amusement park. It was opened in May 1909 and was located at Chevinedge, Exley.
One week before the opening of the zoo, men were working well into the night in preparation for opening day. The idea was to find a representation of the world's species of animals, and the zoo boasted an elephant, zebras, camel, monkeys, pythons and eagles amongst its stock of a thousand.
Exley was transformed on May 29th, the opening day. People flocked to the zoo, many taking advantage of the special tram service to the bottom of Exley Bank. Celebratory flags were hung at the zoo's entrance, the mansion and many neighbouring houses.
Over the opening Whitsuntide weekend some forty thousand people visited the attraction.
As well as the animals, the zoo boasted many other attractions. One of these was the cinema, then referred to as the "Electric Theatre". It was said to be the first of its kind outside London.
Adjacent to the cinema was the Fun Factory and the Hall of Mirrors. There was a large skating rink and a miniature railway with the very apt name of "Little Elephant" transported visitors around the park.
The zoo became well known for its special attractions, some of which reflected the growing fascination with flight. Only a month after the opening, a Captain Spencer visited the zoo with the intention of ascending five thousand feet in a balloon and then parachuting back to earth. This he achieved, although his landing at North Dean Wood was slightly off target!
Life at the zoo was not without its dramas. On one occasion, a wild boar leaped over the railings of its enclosure and attacked a woman. Reports at the time said that the woman fought off the boar with her umbrella! On another occasion, Nigger the elephant, who was a favourite with visitors, decided to break free of her chains. She was later found asleep on the front lawn of Chevinedge Mansion. In 1913, a grizzly bear was seen lumbering down Exley Bank, closely followed by the head keeper. The bear was later recaptured in Elland Wood.
During the First World War, it became evident that the zoo was losing its popularity. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to obtain food for the animals. In 1916, the animals were sold and the last advertisement for an attraction on the site was in 1917. The mansion was demolished in 1933 and houses were eventually built on the site of the zoo.
