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Bostock & Wombwell's Menagerie
 Photograph
taken in 1912 by Tom Airton whose studio was at what is now 6 High
Street (Hidden behind the wagon).
Original
photograph loaned by Mrs Dorothy Hudson. The three boys on the left are
Walter Hudson, Maurice Hudson and Rufus Bradley though the correct order
is not known.
 People
rarely ventured far from home in those days and relied on entertainment
being brought to them by travelling shows. Often for one night only in
the smaller towns.
Bostock
and Wombwell's Menagerie was probably one of the best known and
travelled the length and breadth of the country giving many people their
first glimpse of wild animals at their "Wild Beast Show". They
had lions, tigers elephants, camels and giraffes amongst their twenty
nine different animals. One of the favorites being Billy the Pelican.
Star
of the show was Captain Fred Wombwell, one of the most famous animal
trainers of all time.
 The
other heavier wagons would be drawn by up to six horses depending on the
loads. The one pictured being used purely for publicity purposes. |
