When I was a kid living in Egerton St (1950s) the far side of the tower building (river side) had a "zoo" which I think cost 2/- to enter and was just the length of the tower building with animals in cages on the river side, it was just a 2 min walk past a few bedraggled specimens which wasn't that good.
At some point the "zoo" was moved to the higher ground between the tower and the quarry right on the edge of the grounds I remember clearly that it had an open pen with wolves in it, that must have been the early 60s because I took a photo of a wolf with my 120 film camera from woolies. I then went on to the Guiness clock which was just uphill from the new zoo, while I waited for parent to come out of the rakers bar, I was too young to appreciate a zoo like that, Chester was much better.
The "cages" in the first zoo were old tram cars. Terrible conditions for those poor animals but in fairness most didn't know better in those days.
Here is another image of the Tower and its grounds. It's from a postcard and I've already posted it on another thread recently.
Of note are the two masts, on the skyline, just to the right of the Tower Buildings. They were for a high-wire act.
The Tivoli Theatre has yet to be built, and we still have the original sea wall.
Just inside the grounds stands a large three-storey house. I'm not too sure on this one, but I think it belonged to the Molyneaux family who sold their land to the Tower Grounds company.
On your original photo can you read what's on the building. I've been told there were 4 places in the fairground where you could have a beer but I've not come across any pics the lakeside,the rock point,the algerian and the woodlands.
Can't imagine why Alton Towers people or Six Flags (or one of their ilk) hasn't tried to re-build a new fairground / amusement Park here in New Brighton? Or maybe they have tried but WBC councillors might want to make it er, financially attractive, for their good selves, first? (Perish the very thought!)
WBC councillors are dopes and have been ever since the tower was knocked down. They have dispayed, over the years, some of the worst urban vandalism imaginable.
You state that the fair was due to open on the Easter Saturday .This is incorrect as It had opened on the Good Friday .How do I know its because I was working on the chairlifts on that day opening the gates at the top of the lift,and sneaking a peek at the Rakers v Rhyl match at the Tower Stadium .I was the last person to ride the chairlift.
