The Exley Zoo

General Points

The Halifax Zoo & Amusement Park opened at Whitsuntide, 29th May 1909, a venture of Alfred McKill of Leeds. It stood on the site of Chevinedge mansion at what is now Chevinedge Crescent, Exley

The opening ceremony included the King Cross Band conducted by Arthur O. Pearce. Nigger, a 17-year-old Indian elephant which took part in the opening ceremony was alarmed by a tram and bolted as it came down Salterhebble Hill, and frightened the crowds before stumbling and falling over. Almost 50,000 people visited on the opening weekend.

This was a popular attraction at weekends and holidays with the Zoo – there was a pygmy farm with miniature buildings and small animals – a monkey house, an ostrich farm, aviaries, a bandstand, and a lake with a fountain. The Zoo aimed to represent the world's range of animals, and exhibited more than 1,000 including

• 2 African lions

• An Arabian camel

• A Japanese bear

• A Canadian grizzly bear - on 17th June 1913, there was excitement in the district when this escaped. It was at large for 2 hours before being recaptured in Elland Wood

• Bears

• A wild boar - which jumped out of its enclosure and gouged a woman's leg before being captured by another visitor

• Eagles

• An Indian elephant - one night, this escaped and was traced by its footprints across the grounds. It was found asleep in the grounds of the Zoo

• A Nubian goat

• Hyænas

• Jackals

• Monkeys

• Pythons

• Sea lions

• A wallaby

• Wolves

• A yak

• Zebras

• Many birds

There was a stage with pierrots and other performers, and the grounds were extended to the site of the present rugby fields.

Other attractions included

• The Electric Theatre
• The Fun Factory
• The Hall of Mirrors

An admission price of 6d was charged.

A miniature narrow-gauge railway – known as the Little Elephant – was opened in 1910 and ran round the grounds. It was said to throw off sparks which damaged ladies' hats. The engine was originally at Blackpool's South Shore, and was later moved to Sunny Vale.

In 1912, a small figure-of-eight roller-coaster was erected.

There was a concrete roller-skating rink at the Zoo.

The Zoo closed in 1916 when the war reduced the number of visitors and made it difficult to obtain food for the animals.