Auction of Bristol Zoo Gardens memorabilia raises staggering amount
The money will be used to improve the new zoo, Bristol Zoo Project, in South Gloucestershire
Hundreds of items of memorabilia from the old Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton, have sold at auction for far above their estimated value.
Items including framed photos of animals, signs from around the grounds and even door handles taken from some of the iconic buildings were on offer. Collectively they went for a staggering £161,600.
All the money will be put towards developing the new zoo, Bristol Zoo Project in South Gloucestershire. One sign advertising the Gardens, dating from the early 20th Century, went for £16,000.
Posting on social media after the auction ended, Bristol Zoological Society said: "We would like to say thank you to everyone who has bid on an item and supported us in our mission of saving wildlife together and helping protect the world’s most threatened species.
"It’s been wonderful to watch the live public auction take place and see how many people have taken the opportunity to join us in celebrating our long history.
"Not only are they securing their own piece of history, they're also helping us fund the charity's future."
Bristol Zoo Gardens was one of the oldest zoo's in the world, having first opened its doors in 1836. It closed in September 2022 with bosses citing financial issues and an inability to expand, because of the enclosed nature of the land.
That decision has proved highly controversial however, with campaigners against the idea calling it unnecessary and accusing the zoo's bosses of dishonesty over the whole saga, something they have repeatedly denied.
The group Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Alliance labelled today's auction a "revolting spectacle" on social media.
"This is Bristol's Heritage being flogged off," the group posted on X.
"For shame."
Meanwhile, a petition calling for the site not to be sold for housing has been signed more than 12,000 times.
You can read much more about the zoo saga by clicking the Bristol Zoo tags below.