There was also a less savoury side. It was here that the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea famously met for 'pistols-at-dawn'. A few hundred yards to the east was the infamous Red House Tavern, a favourite haunt of Charles Dickens, and of the roughest pubs in London.
The arrival of the Park helped the area gentrify. Townhouses and villas sprang up and the Park's open spaces became a focus for all kinds of leisure activities. The first football game played under Football Association rules was played here on 9 January Twentieth Century:.
During both World Wars, the Park was used as a defence station with anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons and shelters. In Battersea Park became a central part of the Festival of Britain celebrations. Its 'Pleasure Gardens' included the Guinness Clock, a tree-walk, a miniature railway and the rollercoaster known as the Big Dipper.
Sadly, the Big Dipper suffered a large fire in and then, in , a derailment resulted in the tragic death of five children. This led to the closure of the attraction and, two years later, to the entire fun fair. Current features of the Park. Battersea Evolution - an exhibition centre - now sits on the site of the old fun-fair. The Park also houses a children's zoo, a bandstand, tennis courts, a running track, all-weather pitches, a bowling green, cricket pitches and the Pump House Gallery.
One of London's great nineteenth century public parks. It was laid out between and to designs by James Pennethorne and John Gibson. The site, which was originally flat and swampy, was built up using material excavated from the Royal Victoria Dock and supplied free of charge by Thomas Cubitt.
Battersea retains many typically Victorian park features including a serpentine carriage drive, a formal avenue, an irregular lake, flower gardens and shrubberies. Roger, formerly an architect, and Carol, a physiotherapist, first started volunteering at an otter conservation trust in the s. They ended up looking after rescued otters in their back garden in Derbyshire, which had a stream. Gradually their menagerie grew and the Chestnut Centre was born.
The family were invited to take over the running of the two other parks later on, as their reputation grew. Along with their son Ed, they now devote their time to looking after Battersea Park Children's Zoo and The New Forest Wildlife Park, helping with animal rescue and rehabilitation and taking part in international captive breeding programmes for endangered species, such as the giant otter, European bison, Eurasian otter, Harvest Mouse, European polecat, Scottish wildcat etc.
Other members of the Heap family are animal mad too and have carried on in the family tradition. Battersea Park Children's Zoo has a dedicated and passionate team of people working everyday to make the park an enjoyable, educational and memorable place to visit.
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