The sun shone on the Chester Civic Trust walk, guided by David Mottram, exploring the Old Ferry Terminal and Victorian Pleasure Gardens of Eastham.

David brought back to life the wonders that must have greeted the visitors when they entered The Gardens through an arch constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

The gardens contained colourful raised flower beds with exotic trees and shrubs, five fountains , a boating lake and a performance area where the famous tightrope walker Chevalier Blondin performed in 1883.

In addition from 1860 to 1890 a zoo including lions, bears , seals and monkeys existed.

Later additions included a water shoot, think steam-powered log flume and even a loop-the-loop railway, an early ‘Alton Towers type’ corkscrew.
It is hard to imagine now in this beautiful and tranquil park the excitement that lay within.

Thank you to David for this fascinating insight into the Park’s past.