Bear Pit
The Bear Pit: A 60-Year Journey of Restoration
In 1966, Leeds Civic Trust completed the purchase of the historic Bear Pit for the sum of £128. As a new organisation and advocate for the value of heritage buildings, the Trust wanted to lead by example, taking practical steps to save a building at risk. Little did we know that this would become one of our longest-running projects, filled with challenges and discoveries!
The Zoological and Botanical Gardens are established
In 1837, a society of the great and the good was set up to establish a public zoological and botanical garden in Leeds, to provide ‘healthy recreation’, and funds were raised from private investors and subscriptions. It opened in 1840 as the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens. For the original design, a competition was held and was won by Wakefield architect William Billington, assisted by botanist and landscape gardener Edward Davies. The gardens aimed to rival the Royal Parks of London, and the designs were influenced by the ideas of J.C. Loudon, the designer of Regent’s Park.
A high wall (most of which survives today) was built around the gardens with a main entrance on what is now Spring Road. There were lakes, a fountain, paths, rare and fine flowers and plants, but little wildlife. In 1841, a variety of entertainments and improvements were introduced to attract visitors. They included a grotto, statues and most notably a habitation for a bear!
The gardens initially attracted considerable interest, but ticket sales did not bring in enough money to maintain the site, and in 1848, it closed. The land was sold at auction, and the gardens were reopened under new management as Leeds Royal Garden.
The new owners worked tirelessly to make the park financially viable by reducing entrance fees, changing opening times, and hiring the space out for events. They even persuaded the newly opened Leeds and Thirsk Railway to provide a new halt at the southern entrance named after the gardens. Despite these efforts, the gardens remained unprofitable. Eventually, in 1852, they closed, and the land was sold and developed for housing, leaving the Bear Pit as one of the few lasting reminders of this ambitious project.
The History of Bear Pits
By the 1840s bear pits were popular - there were others at Wakefield and Sheffield. The cruel sport of bear-baiting was banned in 1835 but people, especially children, enjoyed feeding bears. The Bear Pit on Cardigan Road, Leeds is a turreted, castle-like design, overlooking where the the ornamental lake would have been, it was an unusual bear pit as most were simply pits with railings. This bear pit had a tunnel which led under the towers to the brick lined pit behind. Visitors climbed the stairs in the towers to throw buns to the bear, which climbed a pole to catch them.
Progress and Discoveries in 2023 and Beyond
After years of planning and fundraising, we achieved a significant milestone in 2023, with the approval of our restoration plans. These included making the site more accessible with disabled access, improved landscaping, safer viewing areas, and enhanced security measures. Work commenced in early 2024, carried out by local specialist builders R.H. Fullwood & Co. Ltd.
During the restoration, we made some exciting discoveries, including a plaque from the 1960s documenting earlier renovation efforts by the Trust and a stone trough with an overhead pipe, believed to have been used to provide water for the bear.
The Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens Leaflet
To view our 'The Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens' leaflet, please click here
What's next for the Bear Pit
The newly restored Bear Pit is an exciting project by Leeds Civic Trust, and we want to ensure it’s used in a way that benefits the local community and creates a space everyone can enjoy. Your feedback is crucial in shaping how the Bear Pit can be used.
We’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions!
Please click here to answer a few questions
Grand Opening Event
On 29th March 2025, we celebrated the restoration of the Bear Pit with a grand opening event. Click here to read all about it.
