What Remains of the Battersea Funfair?
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Come and explore the history of Battersea Park in this complete series. In this video we are going to look at the Battersea Funfair and the famous Big Dipper rollercoaster accident in 1972.
VIDEO INFORMATION CREDITS & THANK YOU'S
Vern Orton
British Pathe News
Friends of Battersea Park
John Hinde
Battersea Funfair Facebook Page
South London Press
My London
Wandsworth Times
Dennis King
Coaster Mania
AP Archive
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Two of my friends were on the Big Dipper when it collapsed. One suffered a broken arm and continuing PTSD, the other never came home. I went to the 50th anniversary memorial last year
Very sad. 😥
😭nooo im so sorry for your loss
When we lived in Hackney during the 1960’s it was a Sunday treat to be taken to the fair. My favourite ride was the water shute.
I remember a stall where you threw wooden balls at a target and if you hit it a bikini clad woman rolled out of a bed. My dad enjoyed that one!
I used to go there a lot in the 1960s and in the early 70s I got to go on all the rides for free with my best friend from school because his father was one of the directors of Trust House Forte who owned the fair at that time. My favourite ride was the Dive Bomber but I was too scared to go on the Big Dipper. Thanks for this. It brings back many happy memories.
I loved the rotor too. Especially when the floor fell away and you slid down the wall !
I remember that funfair at Battersea...
I went once, taken there when I was quite young by my Nan & Grandad.
I wasn't old enough to go on the bigger, higher rides and recall my Grandad riding the water chute ride, and my Nan and I standing at the bottom watching Grandad ride it, and we both got splashed by his "carriage" as it hit the water at the end of the ride!!
I rode an elephant that day, but had no photos taken...☹️
When my sister (nearly nine years my senior) went to Battersea Funfair, she rode a pony _and_ had her photo taken... As a child I always resented her having ridden a pony - my favourite animal - and, when I was nearly seventeen, I started working with, learning how to ride properly (instead of just being led around!) and care for horses, then actually _teaching horseriding_ myself.❤🐴❤ The best rides, better than any funfair rides, to my mind!! 🐴🏴💜🇬🇧🐴
I was 9 years old in 1969 when we went to London and I got to visit the funfair, it was a magical place for me and I absolutely loved it, the rides the sounds and general excitement, I went to the children's zoo, but remember I just wanted to go on all the rides... Thanks for this nostalgic reminder of my day at Battersea Funfair...
I used to ride the water chute and Rotor rides as a kid at Dreamland in Margate, not realising they were the ones relocated from Battersea park.
My sister went on the Big Dipper the day before the accident. She was on the first date with the bloke she would go on to marry four years later.
I always hated that Big Wheel though. Those flying saucer cars had really low sides and I was always worried I was going to fall out!
The site where the fair was was just a big expanse of concrete into the early 80s. During the early 80s rollerskating craze, we used it as a massive skating rink. Often on summer Sundays cars would drive in, get massive speakers out of the boot and play music for us to skate to. Happy days! 😊
As a London child of the 50’s I have vague memories of the funfair. Moved away in early 60’s. Thanks for the memories 👍👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Fascinating video. I found it quite emotional. I remember going to the fair there for my 15th birthday in September 1972. Fond memories apart from the awful accident earlier that year. It is strangely haunting to see what is there now after the intensive joy of Battersea fifty plus years ago.
That part of the wall, where people used to " shimmy in " had a red 'phone box there- so it was easy to slide down behind it without being seen- and emerge as though you'd just used the 'phone! Happy memories!
Been searching for ages for information on the park went there as child late 1960s early 1970s remember the tree walk have a photo of my sister on the jets golden memories Blessings and happy thoughts! 😇🙏🎊🤗🎉
We..as a country are world leaders at destroying anything that gives joy
I agree
People died from the big dipper accident so they decided to shut it down after the accident
Another moaning Brit with nothing constructive to offer. Hard to figure out what this one is complaining about. The funfair was clearly falling apart when it closed. From neglect. Let that sink in.
In 1976 my Dad took me to London and he didn't know that it had gone, but I remember the water chute being there all on its own.
My dad took me and my brother there in '76. I remember looking through the fence and seeing the remains of the Ghost Train, with pictures of Skeletons etc on panels, lying about on the ground 🙁
Really interesting piece of social and historical excavation. It raises the question of whether or not such attractions - perhaps on a smaller scale - could and should be ressurected in Battersea Park, or somewhere nearby. I think it might provoke considerable opposition from the occupants of the high rise, high rents, properties nearby. And, of course from those who prefer more tranquil, green parks. But, the success of the London Eye, suggests it might also prove highly popular. It might also have the benefit of reviving Battersea Park Station, whilst also being within easy walking distance of Battersea Power Station station, and adjoining bus routes.
I’d love to see a new incarnation of this attraction at the park. It was my first ever local park back in the 60s and early 70s.
Depending on the weather, my dad would take me there for my birthday in the sixties. Battersea funfair in the morning, a Bond film in Leicester square in the late afternoon. Think the last time I went there was in the mid-seventies to pass some time before walking to Earls Court for a "Wings" concert? I do remember it looking somewhat rough.
Your Battersea Park videos have been wonderful, thank you so much for covering what is very local and personal to me
Glad you like them!
Wonderful thing to see
Built up Land
Become Green Lands with Trees again!! Interesting to see what
Can grow after 50 + years 💚🪐🌳
The first sign of spring for many Londoners was the appearance since the 1950s of the double front adverts on many of the buses "Battersea Funfair Open Daily" and "Festival Gardens Open Daily" - a practice which continued into the early 1970s. We had a family outing to the funfair one evening in about 1968 but as none of us were funfair enthusiasts, we enjoyed the doughnuts instead. I worked in the 1980s at Parkgate Road Battersea which involved a walk the length of the park twice a day to and from Victoria Station. I thought, as a Londoner then, that I knew the park rather well but you have succeeded in filling in some gaps in my knowledge (which surprised me).
you must remember the bishop and sons warehouse on parkgate rd
Wonderful!! I used to visit the funfair many times in the late 50's as I bunked off school! That was where my love of rollercoasters & theme parks started. I rode the big dipper so many times and remember the caterpillar with its retractable cover; the tree walk was great at night and of course the Rotor was always exciting. It was a good time as a teenager - even though I should have been at school!!
loved the funfair. i was about 8 or 9 when my parents took me. the watershhot was my favourite
Another great vid mate, brings back so many happy memories, my cousins lived in Wandsworth and my Auntie worked at the Fair, when I used to go it was another world to a kid like me, I was born in 65, and can remember going with my parents regularly but all of a sudden the visits stopped, I guess it was the accident, something my parents wouldn’t tell a young kid like me, and also my Auntie died of cancer around the same time, can remember being in the ride where you spun round and then the floor disappeared and you were stuck to the side. Great times, sadly after my Auntie passed, she being the typical strong Matriarchal family figure, my cousins family drifted apart, can still remember sneaking to the pictures watching X rated films with my cousin who although only a year older seemed so much more streetwise being from London and me coming from Reading which seemed almost like being a yokel😂. So much better times back then…
Thanks matey
Must have been a great place to spend a day with friends and or family. It reminds me of the Pike in Long Beach California, it was closed in the early 70's but had the same look and feel.
Fun Fact: Right across the bay from where the Pike was is the RMS Queen Mary today, great tour for the money. Thanks to Darren for posting......
Great series and a place I didn't know existed. Be interesting to do a few test digs on that mound and see if there is wreckage of the coaster under there.
Went there in 68 when i was 10 years old with my family .My dad made me go on the big dipper .The man in the front car probably the braker ,stood up holding on with one hand and smoking his cigarette.
I thought it was so exciting
My mum would take us to Battersea park and take the minauture railway and would take us to the amusements. Great times
The Water Chute remained at Battersea until 1977, before being re-located to my local park (Dreamland Margate) - until its eventual demise in 1995.
I was so sad to hear the Chute was being demolished by the then new owner of Dreamland, Jimmy Godden. Think it was around 1996 from memory. Only Blackpool’s and Rhyl’s versions survived until the early 2000’s
@@martinporter4980With the Rhyl chute being the last working example. The Save Dreamland campaign acquired the mechanicals, but whether these are still in storage, I am not sure.
Thanks for making this - in case you haven't seen it there are great shots of the fair in the 60s film 'Wrong arm of the Law'
Thank you so much I am so grateful to watch your video of Battersea Park fairground!
Just seen this video, missed it when released obviously, but glad it popped up on my recommended, very informative and fascinating, sad how it ended, unfortunately there wasn’t the health and safety standards then as there is now and it’s shameful how neglectful people were back then in regards to making money and not considering the safety of the people whose money they were taking. Love the photo fades. Good video 😊
Has very happy memories off the funfair with me mum and dad.
l love these kinds of history video’s. thank you.
Glad you enjoyed
I cant believe the big dipper had such an oversight that allowed that to happen.
Different times, different rules and regulations. From accidents and disasters like that we have a safer world after lessons were learnt even if its feels more sterile.
Another fascinating video and loved this series of Battersea and how it has changed. 👍👍👍😀😀😀😉
Glad you enjoyed it
@@AdventureMe I sure did and look forward to your next upload😀
This episode made me melancholy in an enjoyable way. Thank you,
I am Positive, they could bring, some of it with New Rides, we need more Theme Parks, Cheers Stephen.
Very interesting but also very sad. And only a year later was the Summerland disaster on the Isle of Mann which will be it's 50th anniversary next month. There is a bizarre film called "The Mutations" (Tom Baker/Donald Pleasance) made in 1974 that was filmed a lot on the Battersea fairground site. It was recently on Talking Pictures TV but again, one of the strangest films I have seen.
I really enjoyed that film, especially the freak show 🙂
@@cerneuffington2656 The "freak show" I found uncomfortable viewing.
@@Ian-gw2vx I'd never heard of that film before seeing it on TPTV. Maybe it inspired David Lynch to make The Elephant Man 🙂
Some amazing archive footage of the park back in the day although some of his ride positioning in the park today is inaccurate.
Sat watching this video with a tear in my eye. Beautiful memories i have always cherished from when my Nan and auntie used to take me there on a bus from Turnpike Lane, where we lived in the late fifties when i was about seven. I had no idea that it had closed when i took my now wife of 45 years there for the day in 1977, the year before we were married. i was absolutely devastated.
Absolutely loved this series, I have a fondness for theme parks and rides. So anymore is very welcome! Thanks for making our weeks better. 😊
Thanks for the video i remember the fair as a child your film brings back memories of my childhood and I am very grateful to be able to remember better times Thanks again 😊
Great video 👍🏼
The Cars from Harry Grays Swirl, seen at around 40 seconds into the film are still in use on Jimmy Bowrys Skid to this day 👌🏽
Thanks for the info!
Great video! It's crazy to learn about the history of Battersea Park, especially the Big Dipper accident. Never knew it was such a hotspot back in the day. Thanks for taking us on this journey!
I vaguely remember my parents taking me there in the early 60's.
Cannot remember any particular rides etc.
My parents were in the park with my younger brother the day after the Live Aid concert and saw Bob Geldof and his family. Unfortunately I guess I was at work so missed this.
Thank you for showing the Fun Fair as it was, a happy memory which I only wish I could recall better. 😀
I went there a lot and rode on The Big Dipper many times. I loved watching the motorbike riders on The Rotor, Also you could make a song on a record, and I liked the card that you could add paint to, and the picture would then spin making a fab design. I also remember a crooked house in a black and white mock tudor design, So much of my history is being erased
I remember the stall where you had to knock the lady of the bed 😂
Realy enjoyed watching this short video its incredible to think what it was once like 👍
Thanks a ton!
Great video Darren very interesting 😊
Great video thank you, that was my first experience of a funfair back in the 60's, with mum & dad , I rememebr going on Rotor and the water chute of course, then later on when I should have been at School (Chelsea Boys in Hortensia Road / Glebe Place) me and some mates visited again, I rememebr one of my mates nearly falling off the Catapilla ride, I grabbed his coat and yanked him back into the car. thanks again...
Not watched for ages but very interesting keep up the great work 👍👍👍
Thanks, will do!
the wall where you were standing shows up briefly in the film fade at 12.38, fascinating to see how its not changed...
Thanks Darren for this Informative video on Londons Battersea fun fair, If the big dipper roller-coaster is buried under that mound of earth that's Disgusting & disrespectful there should be a plaque in the spot where those poor innocent children died OMG it's so wrong there should be a plaque of the fun fair as its a part of Londons history. RIP to those Beautiful Angelic children who lost there lives on the Big Dipper this Accident could of Easily have been Avoided, had Proper Ride safety inspections had been carried out.
I think there is a plaque there now. I never saw it though
Went there a couple of times in the late fifties having caught a ferry from Westminster Pier. I remember the funfair and the zoo and the tree walk. I also remember the 'Knock the Lady Out of Bed' attraction, where you threw balls at a target and if you hit the bullseye a bed would tip up and a girl would roll out of it in her nightie!
Sounds different haha
If only we could travel back in time to see things that no longer exist.
i loved this place as a kid i lived in battersea my parents would take me my big sister would take me i remember the rotor it scared me at first when the floor went down but you was stuck to the wall
I have only a vague recollection of going to the park, my most vivid memory was of the Tree Walk, and the Water Chute, the rest i can't remember
I’m really enjoying the Battersea Park series. Thank you so much for sharing it.
My dad worked on the building of battersea fun fair. I have a photo of him working on it. Before it opened the builders were allowed on the rides for free to test them out.
Brilliant. Thanks for sharing
Another great video shame nothing left today
Fantastic video, Darren! I've always been curious about the history of Battersea Park, and your series has been a real eye-opener. The blend of old photos and footage with your modern-day exploration truly brings the park's past to life. I can only imagine how fun it must have been to visit the funfair back in its heyday. Keep up the great work, and I'm looking forward to your next adventure!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Schönes Video 😂.
Thank you Darren 👍
Excellent & brilliantly informative (as always)
How incredible that the world turns so quickly!
I remember going here when we lived in London. It was so long ago now but remember seeing the big dipper and water shoot. We had moved up to Yorkshire when the accident happened and I can remember it being on the news. I am sure it was on the news when the big dipper was pulled down as well.
I hope your coffee/tea was still hot in your cup…nice video….👍
Very!
I went to battersea fun fair when i was a kid living in south london. I remember seeing the tracks of the miniature railway still in situ. We went ,i think, by bus, i seem to remember going along Woolworth road and seeing the elephant and castle in its still immediate postwar condition!
I was a teenager and was a regular user of this funfair in the early 70s until it closed. I remember using the bus number 137A to and from Sloane Square tube to get there, it would use Carriage Drive North as the terminus for it's journey from Battersea Park back to Sloan Square Underground Station.
Well worth the wait really enjoy this one you did battersea proud
Great video as always Darren, very interesting and informative. Thanks 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it
Another beautiful video. Great information, pictures & VT thanks for bringing us this wonder 🙏🏻🙏🏻💯
Thanks for the video, interesting info about this funfair, it did look like it was where the ride turned around the mound in the tarmac, and to think part of the big dipper is under the mound of grass, is fascinating 😊
The Water Chute was moved to Margate's Dreamland 🙂
Yet again. A brilliant video. Thank you.
Thanks again!
Another great video !!
Thanks again!
Thank you for todays video. Always a great trip back in time and stairs and walkways were in the past. Good to see you back again, Darren. Enjoy they week ahead, and see you on the next! 😊
That was every bit as good as I had hoped for, I will try and check out the zoo when we visit the power station which was clearly puffing away in the background of the footage you showed. Such a shame that it fell into disrepair - Charging an entrance fee even then surprised me for a funfair but it was rather special in it's heyday. Thanks for putting such effort into it
What an interesting video. Filming amazing. Very poignant when you see what used to be. Excellent documentary Darren. Very moving at the end with the music.
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice video. Either for our choir boys outing, or the school prefects trip, we always voted for Battersea Park. Road the original dipper then the two steelies erected after the accident. I believe the water chute now resides at Dreamland.
Great video mate
Thanks 👍. X
Really good views of a coffee cup.
If he got it from the hut next to the floodlit football and hockey pitches, it'll be the best coffee for a couple of miles around. Honest.
Great content Darren, very interesting, looking forward to the next video.
Thanks 👍
Was excited to see what you would find at the site of the fun fair as I have been there a few times to try and find anything of it . I went there many times as a kid . But found very little like you .
Guess when you think it was almost 50 years ago that it stopped running it is hardly surprising . Wa not like it had a lot of permanent structures .
Great vid as ever Darren
Fab video.
Much love mate 😊
I knew you would do a great job of this one Darren, Well Done, hope to catch up soon. Regards Mark 👏
Many thanks
That was a brilliant series Darren, thank you very much for showing us. It was a cramped fairground indeed, I love seeing the old footage of folk enjoying themselves, not a phone in sight.
I never knew they had zoos with children in them though 😂
5:55, bloody Prius ruining the view 😂
I’m guessing you filmed all 3 on the same day? I recognised the brew haha. Take care, thanks again 👍🏼
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes all in one afternoon
What a fascinating little series - thank-you, Darren. It's hard to see how a permanent funfair wouldn't pay somewhere in London now, as they never seem to lose their appeal... or is it precisely because they come and go, that they're popular? Not having a head for structural heights, I've never been much of a big dipper fan, but the water slide variety had to be done, back in the day. It anything it was more fun as a somewhat suppler adult - I suspect now I'd have to find something rather more accessible to ride upon, Darren! Interesting height differentiation with the fragment of wall you discovered, too - it's amazing how moving a few tons of earth around makes such a massive difference.
With the filth that's walking around today it wouldn't be safe.
Love this channel
I went to Battersea park funfair in 1959 it was great fun until my money ran out, it was my only vist i have great memories of the park and train journey back home.
Hello Darren how are you love your vidio very interested I remember the water shoot at Blackpool pleasure beach I use to go on it they have one at peshame park in Scarborough best wishes take care stay safe xx ❤😅
Interesting about the ride sold to Belle Vue, they sold their rides to Blackpool pleasure beach. I’d love to see a Belle Vue tour. I’ve been to the site, it’s huge and still some bits left including the dog track.
People end up dying and no charges brought something not right there but a brilliant video Darren
Would be nice for a small amount of rides and attractions to return to battersea.
Have been there, the Caterpillar ride,alot of years ago,
London needs it's own amusement park
Thorpe Park is the one now. But yeah a city park would be ideal like winter wonderland.
I heard uk will be getting universal studio theme park
Jetstream at 1.0s. mins that ended up at Belle Vue Manchester then went to Rhyl from 1978 to 2010
Thanks for making my 50th birthday a bit more special. Shame the zoo was closed as maybe some of the funfair might still exist.
Happy birthday!
Hi Darren. Can you please come to Stoke On Trent and do a video on the 1986 Garden Festival site. There are still a few things to see here that have remained intact after all these years. I know, I've found them! Would make an interesting video. Thanks for the quality videos 👍
Thanks mate. I have it on my list to do. I've been to waterworld a few times and know the site a little.
@@AdventureMe 👍
This fairground appears in the 1960s TV series "The Prisoner" starring Patrick McGoohan in the episode "The Girl Who Was Death".
5:09 is this the same Zyklon coaster that used to be at Skegness in the 1980's?
'Get in without paying' Dunno what you mean Darren - ! That was par for the course in our youth - ! 😅
I can imagine. Kids always know how
Hi Darren, a great series of Battersea Park and FoB. Just my own thoughts but you were a tad perplexed about the designs of railings in certain areas. To me its all of the time, WW11 was over, space, rockets were now fact rather then fiction and the design was all futuristic for modern times. Those railings symbolised the concept of atoms, sputniks etc. Cheers DougT
So sad 😢