Entire history of Belle Vue Zoo and Gardens to go online. ... of a tiger leaping over a polar bear and there is a zoo-keeper’s daily log going back for years and many posters and maps of the site.

Belle Vue was founded by John Jennison in 1825 but passed out of his family’s hands in 1925, the year the history was written. The site remained a firm favourite with families for decades to ...

For many Mancunians, Belle Vue is still synonymous with melting ice lollies, ... In 1977, the bosses of the zoo announced they were having to close, unable to support the £100,000 a year losses.

Lorenzo Lawrence was head elephant-keeper at Belle Vue Zoo for over 40 years. Maharajah, and trainer Lorenzo Lawrence, became local legends after making the journey from Scotland.

In her day, Maude was as famous as Cecil the Lion, drawing in crowds far and wide to see her proudly sashaying in her enclosure at Manchester's Belle Vue Zoo. What set Maude apart from the lions ...