Guilsborough Wildlife Park near Northampton was a local colle ction to me, quite a good zoo, when Mrs Symington had it, when she owned it they managed to breed Red Lechwe, they had a nice enclosure for them, but when she sold the park it went downhill in my opinion, they had a few rarities like clouded leopard but the enclosure were fairly basic,which is a pity as it was located in a superb setting in undulating countryside with woods, lakes surrounding a georgian mansion.Would be interested in other peoples views.
Guilsborough Wildlife Park
- Thread starter pete87
- Start date
When I was very young I recall visiting a Wildlife Park that must have been Guilsborough Grange. This would have been towards the end of its existence.
I recall there being a painting of a Lion on the entrance sign but being disapointed that there were none on display (of course the place did have them once).
I don't recall any really remarkable species and my memories are very hazy but I can recollect a single Crested Porcupine, a Ring-tailed Coati, Squirrel Monkeys, quite a robust cage (that must have been constructed for something else) containing 9 European Eagle Owls, Badgers and a Jackdaw that bit my finger. Of course there was quite a bit more than this.
I can remember the layout of the place quite distinctly and that the Porcupine had made an appearance on the television. But thats about all.
I recall there being a painting of a Lion on the entrance sign but being disapointed that there were none on display (of course the place did have them once).
I don't recall any really remarkable species and my memories are very hazy but I can recollect a single Crested Porcupine, a Ring-tailed Coati, Squirrel Monkeys, quite a robust cage (that must have been constructed for something else) containing 9 European Eagle Owls, Badgers and a Jackdaw that bit my finger. Of course there was quite a bit more than this.
I can remember the layout of the place quite distinctly and that the Porcupine had made an appearance on the television. But thats about all.
It did have Squirrel monkeys and coatis
Guilsborough did have some squirrel monkeys and coati too, the coati were in a pen near the gift shop, nearby was a walled garden which had aviaries for Electus Parrot, Toucans,Racoons,FruitBats and an enclosure for Clouded Leopard, there was a badly designed bird house which had rockpeblar parakeets, a community paddock for Reeves Muntjac and Wallabies and a small waterfowl pond, the collection was sold to Colin Vince who I think was a bird dealer.
Guilsborough did have some squirrel monkeys and coati too, the coati were in a pen near the gift shop, nearby was a walled garden which had aviaries for Electus Parrot, Toucans,Racoons,FruitBats and an enclosure for Clouded Leopard, there was a badly designed bird house which had rockpeblar parakeets, a community paddock for Reeves Muntjac and Wallabies and a small waterfowl pond, the collection was sold to Colin Vince who I think was a bird dealer.
reptile1517
Well-Known Member
Colin Vince
Colin Vince was a bird dealer who had premises in Isleworth, Middx. I used to buy birds from him. Then he was fined £1000 for trying to smuggle a bird of prey through Heathrow. You are correct in saying he bought the Zoo but after he moved I didn't hear of him again. I did hear the Petries from Southport bought the place but I might be wrong.
Colin Vince was a bird dealer who had premises in Isleworth, Middx. I used to buy birds from him. Then he was fined £1000 for trying to smuggle a bird of prey through Heathrow. You are correct in saying he bought the Zoo but after he moved I didn't hear of him again. I did hear the Petries from Southport bought the place but I might be wrong.
The Petries did not buy the place.
reptile1517
Well-Known Member
potential
It could have been a good wildlife collection, unfortunately facilities were poor,no exhibits were under cover, there was two much stamp collecting to see how many species they could keep, rather than fewer species exhibited properly, after all it was convenient to large centres of population like Leicester and Northampton.Potentially it could have been really good, there were lakes, gardens and woodland, a far better natrural setting than zoos like twycross , l look what they have achieved.!
It could have been a good wildlife collection, unfortunately facilities were poor,no exhibits were under cover, there was two much stamp collecting to see how many species they could keep, rather than fewer species exhibited properly, after all it was convenient to large centres of population like Leicester and Northampton.Potentially it could have been really good, there were lakes, gardens and woodland, a far better natrural setting than zoos like twycross , l look what they have achieved.!
Gentle Giant
Well-Known Member
Doug and Carol Petries bought the Yorkshire Dales Falconry and Conservation Centre after Southport Zoo closed down in 2004.
Could have been a good small animal collection
I thought that the Symingtons had potentially built up a good collection, living just 20 miles away,I used to go there quite often as they had a good breeding record with Wild Cats etc, and also bred Red Lechwe. once it was sold it wasn't the same.
I thought that the Symingtons had potentially built up a good collection, living just 20 miles away,I used to go there quite often as they had a good breeding record with Wild Cats etc, and also bred Red Lechwe. once it was sold it wasn't the same.
Could have been a good small animal collection , but it wasnt !
The park was nothing more than cages for Mrs Symington's pets. There was no breeding programme, the only big cats that breed were unwanted pumas, which didn't survive very often due to the fact that the parents were related . Most of the birds were eaten by rats, a breeding pair of Sun Conures lasted less than 48 hours before they were eaten. None of the owls ever breed, they laid but due to poor diet the eggs always broke. All the carnivores survived on a diet of day old chick, including the big cats !! Ill or injured animals were routinely killed, vets were a luxury. The only thing that kept the animals healthy, and the park running, was the total dedication of the keepers. Things got even worse when the Vince's took over, and ended with the park closing, and Colin Vince charging people to shoot the big cats !! Very Sad ! I could go on but risk being sued !!!
The park was nothing more than cages for Mrs Symington's pets. There was no breeding programme, the only big cats that breed were unwanted pumas, which didn't survive very often due to the fact that the parents were related . Most of the birds were eaten by rats, a breeding pair of Sun Conures lasted less than 48 hours before they were eaten. None of the owls ever breed, they laid but due to poor diet the eggs always broke. All the carnivores survived on a diet of day old chick, including the big cats !! Ill or injured animals were routinely killed, vets were a luxury. The only thing that kept the animals healthy, and the park running, was the total dedication of the keepers. Things got even worse when the Vince's took over, and ended with the park closing, and Colin Vince charging people to shoot the big cats !! Very Sad ! I could go on but risk being sued !!!
reptile1517
Well-Known Member
Don't Worry.
Don't worry, you can't be sued for speaking the truth. Spill the beans...
Don't worry, you can't be sued for speaking the truth. Spill the beans...
How many of you were Keepers at Guilsborough?
How many of you were Keepers at Guilsborough?! I was for many years. I was there with Mrs S and then that so called "man" Vince.
I'd like to rectify some of the things said above if I may. Yes, a lot of the Animals were seen as Mrs S's pets but what people didn't realise was that she took on sick, orphaned and unwanted Animals from other collections. An awful lot of them were due to be destroyed but she couldn't let that happen. As for the Big Cats being fed just chicks, that just isn't true! They were fed venison, calf, lights and also chicks for roughage sometimes. With the Birds of Prey, yes, there should have been more variety in the diet, but in all my years there, I only remember 2 Owl chicks being lost - and that was put down to the ages of the Parents. More often than not, eggs were pinned, exchanged or chicks hand reared.
As for Vince - last known of in Middlesex, still importing Bird's. And yes, the Keepers were the only things keeping The Grange going when Vince was there, including using their own money to buy food for the Animals. Luckily neither Mrs S or the Major ever knew of what happened to the Animals after they left. It would have broken her heart. For those of you who knew them, both Mrs S and Major have now passed away.
How many of you were Keepers at Guilsborough?! I was for many years. I was there with Mrs S and then that so called "man" Vince.
I'd like to rectify some of the things said above if I may. Yes, a lot of the Animals were seen as Mrs S's pets but what people didn't realise was that she took on sick, orphaned and unwanted Animals from other collections. An awful lot of them were due to be destroyed but she couldn't let that happen. As for the Big Cats being fed just chicks, that just isn't true! They were fed venison, calf, lights and also chicks for roughage sometimes. With the Birds of Prey, yes, there should have been more variety in the diet, but in all my years there, I only remember 2 Owl chicks being lost - and that was put down to the ages of the Parents. More often than not, eggs were pinned, exchanged or chicks hand reared.
As for Vince - last known of in Middlesex, still importing Bird's. And yes, the Keepers were the only things keeping The Grange going when Vince was there, including using their own money to buy food for the Animals. Luckily neither Mrs S or the Major ever knew of what happened to the Animals after they left. It would have broken her heart. For those of you who knew them, both Mrs S and Major have now passed away.
Yes, they did go down!
You are right, they certainly did when Vince took over. There was an awful lot of bad stuff going on, ending up with only 3 Keepers working there for 3 months solid - no time off, working from morning to night, all through the Summer months. We just couldn't do any more if we tried. Our logic was, for as long as we could, we needed to protect the Animals while we had outside Agencies investigating until they were at a point of being able to step in.
You are right, they certainly did when Vince took over. There was an awful lot of bad stuff going on, ending up with only 3 Keepers working there for 3 months solid - no time off, working from morning to night, all through the Summer months. We just couldn't do any more if we tried. Our logic was, for as long as we could, we needed to protect the Animals while we had outside Agencies investigating until they were at a point of being able to step in.
reptile1517
Well-Known Member
I am indebted to you for the info. Thanks