Old Images of Chester Zoo

See people in bygone ages enjoy their days out in old images of Chester Zoo, in Cheshire.

Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo was opened in Upton, Cheshire, by George Mottershead in 1934.

Today it’s run by a registered charity called The North of England Zoological Society, or NEZS for short. They also have a conservation charity preventing the extinction of thousands of species in more than 30 countries.

Chester Zoo is spread across 125 acres (51 hectares), making it one of the UK’s largest zoos, although it has a total land holding of approximately 400 acres (160 hectares). 

In 2018 1.9 million visitors came to Chester Zoo, making it the most visited wildlife attraction in Britain.

The zoo doesn’t receive any government funding. Ticket prices maintain the running of the zoo, care of its animals, and conservation work worldwide.

2019’s entry cost as little as £20 for adults and £15.75 for children when buying online advance tickets. Children aged 2 and under are free!

Not surprisingly, old footage of Chester is frequently about the zoo.

80 Years of Chester Zoo

This video was released to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Chester Zoo as a charity.

It includes some memories of the zoo from June Williams, George Mottershead’s daughter.

The early years of Chester Zoo – Chester Zoo on YouTube

Chester Zoo in 1944

Back during World War II, a lioness had cubs, Millicent was one of the zoo keepers, and children could have an elephant ride.

Zoo Aka Chester Zoo (1944) – British Pathé on YouTube

Chester Zoo in the 1960s

Originally taken on 8mm celluloid film using a Zeiss Ikon Movikon 8 camera, this video includes the elephants, sealions and brown bears at Chester Zoo in 1964.

Chester Zoo 1964 – Rob Meadows on YouTube

More 1960s footage of Chester Zoo.

Old Cine Films 1960s Chester Zoo – Hayley Green on YouTube

And a third video of Chester Zoo in the 1960s.

Sequence 02 Chester Zoo – Victoria Meadows in the 1960s

Chester Zoo in 1970

In 1970, newsreel footage recorded a school trip to Chester Zoo,

Children At The Zoo (1970) – British Pathé on YouTube

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