The Story of Alton Towers, as a place
of fun, thrills and magic, began when Charles, the 15th Earl of
Shrewsbury, first flung open the gates of his amazing ancestral
estate to an awe-struck public - as far back as the 1830s! As his
monument in the gardens testifies, 'He Made the Desert Smile', and
his great vision of a 'wonderland' with magnificent gardens and
attractions such as the Chinese Pagoda Fountain and Swiss Cottage,
saw Alton Towers as a themed park - 120 years before Disneyland! And
all this set against an incredible Gothic mansion - worked upon by
the great Augustine Pugin - and one of the most splendid in the
world!Crowds have flocked to
this magical place ever since - to the great fairs, wakes and
fireworks extravaganzas in the 1890s - through to the funfairs of
the 1950s - and on to modern times, from the unveiling of The
Corkscrew in 1980 through to the present.
We take a special look - and ride
upon - the remarkable gravity-defying rides of today, such as
Oblivion, Air, Nemesis and Rita Queen of Speed, with fascinating
insights from those such as roller coaster guru John Wardley.
This is the story of Alton Towers
today and yesterday. We take a privileged journey through images
dating back to the 1870s - through film dating back to the 1920s and
through the eyes of the present - to those who know and love Alton
Towers today. Includes archive film of the Brian Collins fairground
of the 1950s, BBC archive footage of the construction of the
Corkscrew, as well as extensive cine shots of the amusement park as
it developed through the years. This is supported by stills from the
Alton Towers archive and private collections.
Produced in association with Alton
Towers. Review
This was a very enjoyable film. Taking
you from the very beginning of Alton Towers. It was a movie I
thought I would never find! But I did enjoy and hope to visit Alton
Towers again very soon. Trust me it will make YOU want to go back
and back until you have basically covered everything.
Lauren Gee, Manchester
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