The Wall of Death in the Tower Grounds, New Brighton, were closed down in 1959. It seems that the attraction was dismantled and re-assembled at a fun fair on the south coast. I've not used the word 'ride' here, because it was something that you climbed up to watch - you didn't go for a ride in or on it. Two or three motorcycles would work their way up the walls of a barrel like structure, lined with wooden planks, until gravity caused them to be riding horizontally. Aparrently, there are still two 'Wall of Death' shows operating and touring in the UK. One of them is the one filmed for the BBC station i.d seen between some programmes. (They will be displaying their riding skills at Stafford Classic Bike Show this coming weekend.)
Now, when I was young, I was taken to see the Wall of Death at New Brighton. I remember all the steps that surrounded the 'barrel' where the bikes rode - and I also remember how the whole structure swayed in a circular motion as the bikes ran around inside.
I have this mental picture that, in the news the following day, it was reported that the wall of death had collasped! Am I right or am I wrong? Was this the end of the Wall of Death or is there another ending?
Don't remember it collapsing but could have done. Had large cables holding it all together. Think it was there later than 1959 though or at least it came back.
Think it was taken to South Africa not the south coast but that might have just been during the winter?
People used to throw money in appreciation and lots of it got lodged between the planking. We used to go there early mornings and look for the cash.
Possibly gravity is the wrong word you are using because that would mean they fell down. What's the word I am looking for?
I remember (many) years ago doing the math for this, it became incredibly complicated and about all I can remember now is that the Indian Scouts were the best bikes for doing it with (some of the others fell off the wall)
I remember it too, especially the movement of the whole structure when the bikes were in motion. Neither to I remember it collapsing. As far as I know the whole thing was sold.
Ive seen the wall of death at stafford many times (see pic)and probably again this weekend, But i also remember the guy who built Pollards pub in Willaston restored an old wall of death around 30 odd years ago now and opened it up behind the pub one sunday afternoon for a free display/ test after the pub closed... i guess it could have been the old one from new brighton.
Not the New Brighton one but I remember going to Blackpool Tower circus as a child and they had a "spherical cage of death" - I bet it had a better name than that though!
It was a huge metal mesh ball which hung from the ceiling of the circus and the motoribikes (I remeber up to 3 at the same time in there) used to do a similar thing and zoom round the circumferance of it faster and faster so they were horizontal. They also used to go round the opposite way so they were like looping the loop going upside down and sometimes the bikes would do "crossing" like the Red Arrows.
As someone else said the noise was terrifiying (it was indoors) and as a 7 or 8 year old I was convinced there was going to be an appalling crash!
the guy that owned it in new brighton used to own the row of victorian houses just past the car sales leading up from the prom, my nephew had a flat there only about 15 years ago and used to live there rent free, the reason being, the wall of death is still operating, or was then, in europe mostly , my nephew Andy used to ride for them, and when he came back , used to give me a hand fitting carpets, dont know if the owner is still alive i`ll have to ask .
