Beechwood Gardens

steeljack · 18-10-2006, 06:12

Do any oldtimers remember a place called Beechwood Gardens ? I have vauge memories of visiting there in the early 50's with my Grandma , I think it was somewhere in the Guide area near a Church with a cemetry ( allways remember we had to visit a grave , great start to a day out for a 5 yr old, no idea who) the place in my memories had a mini zoo, swings and tea rooms.........anyone else remember such a place ? and what do you remember ....
Thanks

WillowTheWhisp · 18-10-2006, 08:28

They had swingboats didn't they?

Reidy · 18-10-2006, 18:41

Beachwood gardens is still there i think on roman road in guide, tea rooms is now a nursery school but the garden centre is still there as i get my fireworks from there for bonfire night and new years eve.

mthead · 18-10-2006, 19:22

Yeah my dad used to take me in the 70's. I remember the swing boats Willow.They also used to have like a pets corner thing,I remember a couple of minor birds who used to talk as you walked pass.

spud · 18-10-2006, 20:23

I remember that place dearly, i was about 4yrs old in 1983 when i first went, there was swingboats, sandpits swings, an aivery with exotic birds, goldfish, hamsters, monkeys ect. I had many a funfilled day there, it was like funfair and a zoo all in one.

I also remember the family who owned it, their youngest son was called chris, he was a classmate of mine at St. james' at the back of the cemetrey.

I do belive they ended up selling off most of the land to developers as there is a newish estate covering most of the former garden centre and playarea now.

It's probably cos of the current claim culture that there's not many places like this nowadays, What fond memories i have of that place.

jambutty · 07-11-2006, 16:20

Beechwood Gardens are still there but more as a café/nursery and a huge garden centre.

Nell · 07-11-2006, 18:10

I absolutely loved Beechwood Gardens, they had mini dodgem cars, i got run over by one. We lived on Haslingden rd when i was little and we'd spend nearly all summer at Beechwood. Theres hardly any decent parks now what with vandalism and health & safety never mind a Beechwood Gardens!

garinda · 07-11-2006, 18:15

I remember going in the sixties, they had a Mynah bird that talked as well. I loved it.

WillowTheWhisp · 07-11-2006, 18:16

yes it's still there in name but it's not what it was.

cashman · 08-11-2006, 17:40

great place i used to take the kids, shame how things change.

Sparkologist · 08-11-2006, 20:53

I remember that place, too.

Didn't they used to have some monkeys in the mini zoo?

West Ender · 08-11-2006, 22:22

I guess I'm an Old-Timer because I knew the place well, as a child. They did have monkeys and I remember a brightly coloured parrot (probably a macaw) that fascinated me because it talked.