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GOLDEN OLDIES: BRITAIN'S AMUSEMENT PARK HERITAGE (PAGE 3)
by Nick Laister
Gallery: From Joyland Books Exhibition Hall, 1 May 2001 to 30 June 2001


Image: Nick Laister


Image: Nick Laister


Image: Nick Laister

Aerial Glide, Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds

There have been amusements at Shipley Glen since before the turn of the century. Opened at their present site in 1915, amusement rides built up around the tearooms, centred on the Aerial Glide (the first ride, which stands to this day). A change in management in 1986 breathed new life into this historic amusement park.


Several historians consider this to be the oldest operating amusement park ride in Britain. This aerial ride is essentially a suspended roller coaster, but pre-dates roller coasters by several years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ride is an unattractive structure, a kind of steel chairlift, which skirts around the outside of a grassy hillside. It was built around 1915, but there are reports which suggest it was built in 1870, but this could be a confusion with an earlier aerial ride which stood on a nearby site.

 

 

 

 

 



Image: Nick Laister


Image: Nick Laister

Water Chute, Wicksteed Park

Considered by many to be the forerunner of the inland theme park, Wicksteed Park was opened in 1921 by Charles Wicksteed (1847-1931). This photograph shows the boat travelling down the drop just before splashdown. (This photograph was not used in the original article).

 

 

 

 


 

The Water Chute, built in 1926 by Charles Wicksteed, is the oldest operating ride at Wicksteed Park. (This photograph was not used in the original article).
 

 

 

 



Image: David Page


Image: David Page


Image: Nick Laister

The Whip, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The Whip first operated at Blackpool in 1921 and is the oldest 'flat' ride in the park. It is also the only Whip operating in Europe.

 

 

 

 


 

 

Close-up of a Whip car, which resembles a waltzer car, but does not spin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Whip in action! This ride has not operated in 2001; its future is now uncertain.

 

 

 


 

 



Image: David Page


Image: David Page


Image: Nick Laister

Turtle Chase, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Turtle Chase was built by Traver Engineering Company, Beaver Falls PA, USA in 1935.

 

 

 

 



 

 

Originally known as the Tumble Bug it is now the only Tumble Bug ride in Europe. Others are to be found at Kennywood, Pittsburgh, Conneaut Lake, PA and Whalom Park, MA.

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Turtle Chase loading.


 

More on the rides featured in this gallery
Barry Island Pleasure Park in themagiceye's article 'More Welsh Wonders'
'Riding on Rainbows: Blackpool Pleasure Beach and its Place in Popular Culture' by John K Walton
Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 'A Palette of Life' by Julia Midgley
BITSoftheBEACH: Blackpool Pleasure Beach Time Capsule
'Dreamland Remembered' by Nick Evans
Graeme Cassidy's Great Yarmouth Chronicles
Pleasureland Southport Demolition gallery
'Pleasurelamd Memories' by Stephen Copnall
Dismantling rides from Southport's Pleasureland for Dreamland Heritage Amusement Park
Pleasureland Photo Gallery at themagiceye
Rotunda Amusement Park Photo Gallery
The Aerial Glide at Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds
A Tale of Shipley Glen at themagiceye
Biography of Wicksteed Park founder Charles Wicksteed
 
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to Dave Page, Gary Radice, Graeme Cassidy, Shelli Ward and the European Coaster Club who have provided several of the photographs featured in the exhibition.

When the article first appeared back in 2001, Joyland Books provided a guestbook for visitors to sign. This is still online here:

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