Features / history

13 historic photos of Bristol Zoo

By Rhiannon Rees  Tuesday Jan 9, 2018

Bristol Zoo Gardens has been open since July 11 1836, making it the fifth oldest zoo in the world. It’s been a tourist attraction since it opened, and has been immortalised in Bristol Archives‘ vast postcard collection over the years. Things have changed a lot of since the early days, but you still might recognise some of the spots.

Zoological Gardens 1910-1936 43207/12/13/1

The Zoological Gardens, date unknown 43207/12/13/4

View from Bear Pit, taken between 1950 and 1960 43207/12/13/12

Timothy, a baby chimpanzee born in the zoo, 1957 43207/12/9/10

Baby elephants and their keepers, 1966 43207/12/5/20

Lion Cubs born in Bristol Zoo, date unknown  43207/12/4/7

Baby Giraffe Born at Bristol Zoo, 1959 43207/12/6/9

Elephant Rides at the zoo, 1920s 43207/12/5/12

The lawn and bandstand, 1900 43207/12/13/9

The Broadwalk, 1930s 43207/12/13/11

The lake, date unknown. 43207/12/13/40

Girls playing a hoop game in the 1930s 43207/12/14/13

Read more: 26 historic photos of College Green

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