This is part of a series of 6 geocaches in the vicinity of The Park, Cheltenham (formerly Cheltenham Zoo ! See below). This geocache can be found at knee height! Bring your own pencil.
Local History : Cheltenham Zoo !
The Park was brought by Thomas Billings, a solicitor, in 1831. He had an ambitious plan for this pear-shaped area of land - it was to be home to Gloucestershire Zoological, Botanical and Horticultural Gardens. The gardens included the grand promenade, a lake, a pagoda, plantations and conservatories, geese, swans, tropical birds, a pair of Golden Eagles, monkeys, a Bramin Bull and a Norwegian Wolf. Despite the issue of 4,000 shares at £5, and an official opening on Queen Victoria’s Coronation Day, 28 June 1838, the zoo enterprise had failed. What is left is the impressive towered building at the junction of Park Place and the Park called the Cornerways, once the entrance to the zoo.
After the failure of the zoo project, the land was sold to the architect Samuel Whitfield Daukes, who converted it into public pleasure grounds, and developed villas round the perimeter. Since 1931 The Park has been owned by colleges. First St. Mary’s Training College for Teachers, and now The University of Gloucestershire.