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Ghost of the lost zoo returns to amaze south Londoners
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent24 Jul 2009
The lost zoo of Walworth, which was home to the first giraffes seen in Britain, is to be remembered in a Victorian day tomorrow.
Southwark council is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the former Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens with a fair on the site now known as Pasley Park.
The zoo was one of the UK's biggest attractions, and was visited by Queen Victoria. About 8,000 visitors a day saw its elephants, rhinos and leopards and more attended spectaculars and concerts in the grounds.
The excitement was short-lived. By the late 1840s, the animals had been sold off and the park eventually closed in 1877.
But the glory days of wildlife in SE17 are being remembered this weekend thanks to councillor Caroline Pidgeon, who was keen to share the forgotten slice of history.
Judy Aitken, heritage operations manager at Southwark council, said: "Walworth isn't exactly the first place that springs to mind when you mention exotic animals, but that's precisely what it was in the heyday of Surrey Gardens."
The free Victorian-themed fair runs from noon to 5pm. It will include tours of Surrey Docks Farm, events in Walworth Garden Farm and performances. Artefacts from the zoo are on show in the Cuming Museum, Walworth Road.
