United Kingdom Wingfield Zoo , Ampthill House Bedfordshire (approx 1900 - 1952)

zoowhosewho

zoowhosewho

Well-Known Member
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Wingfield Zoo , Ampthill House Bedfordshire ... This was the Private Zoo of Sir Anthony Henry Wingfield (1857 - 1952)...Wingfield was the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1893 ... his Private Zoo was extremely popular with his visitors but it would appear that the invited visitors literally rode the animals around the Estate (which would not be acceptable today ) ..Wingfield had many houses built in Ampthill just to accommodate many of his invited guests ... . He had Llamas , Zebras ,Cheetahs, Ostriches Camels, Bison, Bulls and Pigs ... the Zoo was scaled down considerably in the 1920's and in the early 1930's many of the animals ended up at Whipsnade Zoo to coincide with their opening .... Wingfield did continue to keep a small Zoo at his home ... He passed away in 1952 and approximately 1 year later the House was demolished and a bigger housing estate was built on its grounds.... Wingfield was a member of the Amateur Menagerie Club .

1st image Ampthil House , 2nd Image Keeper with Cheetahs , 3rd image Mr Wingfield on the right and guests riding Llamas
 
zoowhosewho said:
74214538_10157703308299133_6007635163691876352_n.jpg


74446234_10157703290409133_6421646225497391104_n.jpg


74862383_10157703294674133_1550205618709594112_n.jpg

Wingfield Zoo , Ampthill House Bedfordshire ... This was the Private Zoo of Sir Anthony Henry Wingfield (1857 - 1952)...Wingfield was the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1893 ... his Private Zoo was extremely popular with his visitors but it would appear that the invited visitors literally rode the animals around the Estate (which would not be acceptable today ) ..Wingfield had many houses built in Ampthill just to accommodate many of his invited guests ... . He had Llamas , Zebras ,Cheetahs, Ostriches Camels, Bison, Bulls and Pigs ... the Zoo was scaled down considerably in the 1920's and in the early 1930's many of the animals ended up at Whipsnade Zoo to coincide with their opening .... Wingfield did continue to keep a small Zoo at his home ... He passed away in 1952 and approximately 1 year later the House was demolished and a bigger housing estate was built on its grounds.... Wingfield was a member of the Amateur Menagerie Club .

1st image Ampthil House , 2nd Image Keeper with Cheetahs , 3rd image Mr Wingfield on the right and guests riding Llamas
Click to expand...
Interesting that you say it was guests who were invited to ride the animals, as all the photographs (and there is some film too) I have seen show riders to be all young men in uniform, who would appear to be staff.
 
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