Kathryn Lumb gave an entertaining talk on the short but colourful history of Halifax Zoo to the Aachen Society. It was located on land at the southern edge of the town at Exley on what is now the ground of Siddal Rugby club. The site was purchased in 1907 and two years later it opened at Whitsun to great public interest; 40,000 attended in three days to see the exotic animals with special trains laid on from Leeds and Bradford and trams from the town to Salterhebble. An Amusement park was created alongside with the first electronic cinema outside London, roller skating, boating lake and train ride. Unfortunately the early success did not last and attendances declined during the First World War leading to its closure in 1916.
Geoff Barnes, Publications Officer
