Thank you for that link, very interesting, it is one of those zoos you rarely hear much about.
I heard the other day that the original zoo gates to the old Cromer zoo are still there, though I don`t know what the site itself is like ?
Closed UK Zoos -what became of their sites?
- Thread starter Nanook
- Start date
Thank you for that link, very interesting, it is one of those zoos you rarely hear much about.
I heard the other day that the original zoo gates to the old Cromer zoo are still there, though I don`t know what the site itself is like ?
Blimey! Almost as a monument to the history of Dolphinariums in the UK !
There are others still standing and in use- Whipsnade for definite, Woburn?
Yes sure, Whipsnades - now used for Sealions, and others are still in use for other purposes too ; like Brighton and Dudley old Killer Whale pool etc..
Forgot about Dudley, i assume Flamingoland's dolphinarium is still there too.
I remember Clacton Pier well, as in summer of 76, my grandfather 'volunteered' me to be one of 3 kids who assisted with the show. I remember there was a 'zoo' on the way out, a series of pools, with penguins and seals, possibly otters too.
Just looking at the Penscynor thread about the state of part of the former zoo site as it is today - just think how many other former zoo-sites, that have not been since developed upon, or completely cleared away, are just like this , left to rot away and become covered by the natural foliage.
In many ways they are all "zoo-enclosure graveyards" , from a zoo history perspective they are fascinating even in decay.
In many ways they are all "zoo-enclosure graveyards" , from a zoo history perspective they are fascinating even in decay.
Used for the Sealion show I think .
It is indeed, and the Muddy Duck Farm stables are on the site of the original Dolphin House.
The last time I had a walk up to Scarborough's site it was derelict, but there has been a major redevelopment of that area so it could be different now.
Dudley's Killer Whale pool was developed on the site of part of the Sealion pool (with the Dolphins on the other side of the bridge), but looked very different from what came before and after (the local authority having ordered its removal).
Does anyone know much about the original Cromer Zoo run by Alex Kerr, the old zoo gates are still in place though I guess the site is cleared ??
What about Bronte Zoo in Yorkshire - can anyone add anything about it ?
The Merley Bird Gardens site is now a caravan park I believe, or at least part of it is ?
What about Bronte Zoo in Yorkshire - can anyone add anything about it ?
The Merley Bird Gardens site is now a caravan park I believe, or at least part of it is ?
I would love to know more about Cromer Zoo too. After the bear fiasco at Hotham Park, a bear from a zoo that was closing joined the collection. She was called Mischca and my feeling is that she probably came from Cromer; there is a Cromer postcard with a male bear who looked very like her, so perhaps she was his daughter? Does anyone know?
Hi Pacu,
yes I have seen the Cromer postcard you mean. Of course one problem is the name "Mischca" or "Mischa" was a very commonly used bear name at the time so there may be a few possible contenders?
Indeed but I do know that the zoo she came from was closing down and the RSPCA was involved in the rehoming, so unless anyone knows of another UK collection with bears that was closing at the time, I think Cromer is most likely. This bear and the survivor from Bognor ended up at Longleat. There may, of course be a different explanation and you are certainly right about the name.
Cromer Zoo closed in 1983 if that is any help, but I don`t know a great deal about the zoo I am afraid.
Last I heard it was still being used as a camping and caravan site. It would be great to find out what's happening there also.
It could have bee a great small zoo with the right investment, although a lot of refurbishment would have been needed!
I think it has reverted to a private home and garden now, the house was never open but the grounds had the animals. I only went once and as Stubeanz said it needed a lot of work to bring it up to scratch, I remember fallow dear, red squirrels, Scottish wild cat and Arctic foxes, as well as a pair of old chimps and otters. Plus others I have forgotten . I wonder how many of the animals are still there I believe the owner died and the family closed the zoo but I may have miss remembered that.
crested seriema
Active Member
cromer zoo
I remember going there in the late1960s, it was on the side of a hill from what I can remember, theenclosures were quite cramped, it had Large Cats, a few Primates,Wallabies and Birds. in about 4 acres of grounds,itfell below the average standard for a zoo in my opinion !
I remember going there in the late1960s, it was on the side of a hill from what I can remember, theenclosures were quite cramped, it had Large Cats, a few Primates,Wallabies and Birds. in about 4 acres of grounds,itfell below the average standard for a zoo in my opinion !
Closed UK zoos....
The only time I went to Cromer Zoo (late 60s/early 70s), there was a young Asian Elephant as well as Pumas and Lions. There were two large (Griffon?) Vultures with an Egyptian Vulture in a small circular aviary, and vast flocks of white fantail pigeons everywhere. Also a small mammal house with skunks among other things. All the animals seemed in good condition, but the enclosures would not pass nowadays.
The only time I went to Cromer Zoo (late 60s/early 70s), there was a young Asian Elephant as well as Pumas and Lions. There were two large (Griffon?) Vultures with an Egyptian Vulture in a small circular aviary, and vast flocks of white fantail pigeons everywhere. Also a small mammal house with skunks among other things. All the animals seemed in good condition, but the enclosures would not pass nowadays.
The enclosures that were at Mole Hall were the same ones when i returned with my daughter a few times post 2000, that had been there when i visited regularly as a child in the 70s. The owner (son of original owners) had been ill for some time and the place was pretty run down by the end. He died a few months after the closure.
By 2000, many of the species from my youth such as dingo, arctic fox , smooth otters & serval were long gone & the wildcats weren't there much after that.
Near to the end there were N american & asc otters, wallaby, muntjac, red & fallow deer, guanaco, chimps, capuchin, squirrel monkey, mongoose lemur, golden lion tamarins, red squirrel, flamingo, quite a few waterfowl, owls and a few domestic animals. Not much else i can recall.
The campsite in the car park has now closed & i dont think any animals are left now. It reopened for a few months a year or so after the closure with mainly domestics, & despite rumours of re-opening, it never happened.