Fundraising auction offers chance to secure piece of Bristol Zoo Gardens history

Fans of the former Bristol Zoo Gardens have the opportunity to secure a piece of its history through an online auction of memorabilia and historical items.

Conservation and education charity Bristol Zoological Society, which owns the site in Clifton, is today launching two online public auctions of more than 300 items ranging from original zoo signage to animal sculptures, statues and Victorian benches.

All the money raised will help fund the creation of a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project near J17 of the M5, as well as the charity’s important conservation and education work.

The Society announced the closure of Bristol Zoo Gardens in 2020, and it closed its doors to the public two years later. Since then, the charity has been preparing the site for sale.

To preserve as much as possible, a specialist archivist was brought in to identify items of historical value, which are now stored in Bristol City Council archives. To ensure specific items of sentimental value were returned, the charity also asked members of the public to get in touch if they had any personal items at the site. It has since returned everything from plaques on benches, to portraits.

The charity has also repurposed as much as possible, including Bristol Zoo Project’s new red panda habitat which is made from an old Clifton enclosure.

Both auction catalogues go live today (Friday 1 November). The first auction, featuring more than three hundred lots of memorabilia, will start at 10am on Friday 22 November and will be broadcast live online for bidders all over the world to take part. Bids can be placed in advance, or people can tune in to the live event on 22 November.

The second auction features 45 of the zoo’s iconic Victorian benches, which were created especially for the zoo between 1850 and 1880 and located around the gardens. This is an online-only sale that will end from 8pm on Monday 25 November, with bids being accepted until the time runs down.

Justin Morris, Chief Executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: “This is an exciting time for us as a conservation and education charity, as we embark on plans to build a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project.

“We know the former Bristol Zoo Gardens holds a special place in the hearts of so many people who visited or who were associated with it in some way, which is why we have taken our time to ensure any items of particular historical or sentimental value were preserved. With the launch of these auctions we hope people will take the opportunity to join us in celebrating our long history while also helping to fund the future, by securing their own piece of the gardens.”

The Society is also holding a gala dinner and auction on Friday 15 November, where several exclusive additional items will be up for sale. They include ceramic animal sculptures, statues and signage.

The sales are being held by the Bristol-based company Auctioneum Ltd.

Andrew Stowe, Auctioneum’s Associate Director, said: “It’s a real honour to be hosting these auctions on behalf of Bristol Zoological Society, and to help them raise vital funds. As a Bristol-based company we appreciate the significance, the importance, and the nostalgia these items hold for so many people.

“All of the items tell stories and share a narrative through our collected social history - there are objects from the zoo’s very beginnings, through to both World Wars, and items that remained after the site closed in 2022. Anyone who ever visited Bristol Zoo Gardens will see something they remember. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone to own a unique piece of Bristol Zoo Gardens history.”

Justin Morris added: “All of the funds raised from the online auction and gala event will support our charitable work and new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project.

“Work is now well underway with the creation of a new Central African Forest habitat which will become home to our troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas, led by Jock. The group will be joined by other highly threatened species including cherry-crowned mangabeys, slender snouted crocodiles, African grey parrots and a number of different species of African freshwater fish.”

The zoo at Bristol Zoo Project will also feature new visitor facilities, adventure play areas and a conservation campus for students, vets, and the breeding of threatened animals. The attraction will remain open throughout the work.

The auction catalogues are now live (from Friday 1 November) and anyone wanting to view or bid can do so via Auctioneum’s website www.auctioneum.co.uk.