When Hull was home to hippos, lions and elephants

The hidden history of a former zoo in Hull will be revealed during a series of events this weekend.

The workshop and yard on Hutt Street was part of the city’s Zoological Gardens which were open between 1840 and 1861, providing a home to 52 animal species.

The site has been restored and will open to the public as part of Heritage Open Days taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Owner Andrew Gomersall said: “There’s a lovely lady who lives across the road. She’s lived here her entire life and had no idea about the zoo. People are fascinated by it.”

The Gardens were based on land off what is now Spring Bank, providing a home to the animal exhibits as well as holding regular galas and events.

“The star attraction would have been the elephants, but it also had lions, monkeys, a hippopotamus, crocodiles and the country’s largest collection of polar bears,” Mr Gomersall said.

“It was before the age of the car and people relied on railways. We know they advertised in the train stations and people from places like Manchester would travel here to see it.”

Mr Gomersall, a master stonemason who has worked on Grade I listed buildings across the north of England, bought the workshop in 2022 but had no idea of the area’s past.

“We were taking up a floor on the upper level and we found straw and samples of butter packaging from when the place was a dairy.

“It turns out the zookeeper’s house backed on to the workshop so, as we were doing the renovations, we themed it on the zookeeper’s yard.

“There’s always a lot of interest especially since we’ve installed information boards outside. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved.”