Right up to the time of its sad and untimely demise in the 1970's and 80's, 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 This book is filled with wonderful images, many of them previously unpublished.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. 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.

Author Biography

Heather Stackhouse has worked as a book editor for several years. The scope of her work has been eclectic, she has edited everything from nostalgia titles to crossword books. Heather graduated from Durham University with a Master's Degree in English Literary Studies. Her Bachelors Degree in English Literature was obtained from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Daniel Hyams went to Manchester Grammar School and subsequently attended Leeds University. He worked as a journalist for The Manchester Evening News before embarking on a trip to South East Asia where he taught English.