I do have some photos taken at Dudley Zoo at least twenty years ago when I took my children for a visit. I will look them out and see what's what. My own memories of Dudley Zoo are from visits with the Sunday School, two different Schools really. Erdington Parish and George Road Baptist Church. We kids went in coaches and they were parked in the large Coach Park adjacent to the main gates. We were given the time that we had to go to the Tea Rooms for our tea and the rest of the time we were allowed to roam about. Before taking the chairlift we would visit the coin machine arcade not far from the main gates and spend out pocket money in the machines and trying to win a prize with the "Grabbing Crane " game.No Penny Waterfall machines in those days! When I took my kids to the Arcade some of the old machines were still there! One in particular was a game where skeletons came up out of graves. Very spooky but we loved it.
After going up on the chair lift we would make for the Castle itself and play games all around the place. We would then set off to have a look at the animals of which there were a lot to see.
About 4:00pm we would all meet up at the Tea Rooms for a sit down tea. As this would have been the early l950's the tea was
usually fish paste sandwiches, bread and butter, jelly and an iced fairy cake. You could have orange squash or tea to drink.
It was a great day out and we were nervous about finding the right coach in the large Coach Park at the end of the day.
I know that they used to have concerts in the Tea Rooms many years ago. A fellow I knew here in Vancouver years ago told me that his parents, who were opera singers, used to perform in the Tea Rooms at specially arranged concerts. Perhaps Dudley Library might have some records on this.
I have remembered that it was 1985 when I took my children to visit the Zoo and I have never forgotten all the species of owls
that they had in the walk down from the Castle keep. I also remember my Mother telling me many years ago about ancient sea
creature fossils being found under Castle Hill. Seems that area was covered by a tropical sea 400 million years ago. Now that's going back some long time.