For over
150 years, Belle Vue was the entertainment centre of the North West.
What started off as a small Zoological Gardens soon developed into a
place of fun-fairs, dancing, fire-work displays, music, sports,
boating lakes, a greyhound track and a multitude of dining areas. At
its zenith, an incredible two million people a year visited Belle
Vue.
The growth of the park continued
and new innovations were never too far away. The years saw the
arrival of a purpose-built Speedway Stadium that became home to
legendary Aces teams who thrilled the area and built up a reputation
as the most well known Speedway team ever. The entertainment areas
played host to huge names such as Louis Armstrong, The Rolling
Stones, Bing Crosby and Big Daddy!
Brass-band contests were always
extremely popular and became part of the Belle Vue calendar and the
annual Christmas Circus that took place within the Kings Hall is the
stuff of legend. The Zoo continued to be filled with amazing
creatures from every corner of the globe.
Right up to the time of its sad and
untimely demise in the 1970s and 80s, Belle Vue was a place which
the people of the North-West could be proud of, a fantasy
destination right on the doorstep. This book is filled with
wonderful images, many of them previously unpublished. Belle Vue is
brought alive once more, from the beginning of its history until the
final days.
|
