Clough Hall Park
A History
Between 1890 and 1906, Clough Hall Park was very different to the way that it is now. With a manor house, lake, zip line, switchback railway and laundrette amongst other things, the park, which was called 'The Paradise of the Potteries' attracted people from all over the world.
Hosting regular events, the park has held internationally famous acts such as Blondin 'the Hero of Niagra', The Marvellous Flying Dillons, Unthan the Armless Performer, the Yokohama Troupe of Japanese jugglers and many more.The gardens of the park were also a spectacle to be seen and it was estimated that as many as 30,000 people attended some of the park's events.
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Below is some information about the park and the acts that performed during the Paradise of the Potteries.
The park's entrance. Admission was 1/- (5p ) and half price for children under 12. You can still see the entrance on First Avenue.
The park's laundrette was a focal meeting place for local residents
The Manor House, named Bourne Cottage and situated by the park's lake, was demolished in 1927. Some of the manor was used in the building of local houses.
The opening of the 'Park of Paradise' in 1891 welcomed 'The Ninth Wonder of the World' Carl Herman Unthan who would paint, shoot and play musical instruments.
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Unthan was famous for performing these range of skills despite being born with no arms.
Victorina was known as The Strongest Lady on Earth.
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At this time female strong woman acts would lift very heavy weights and multiple people at the same time.
Victorina was so strong that the final part of her act included catching a cannon ball that was fired at her.
Charles Blondin (whose real name was Jean-François Blondin) was of of the park’s most famous acts.
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Originally from France, Blondin started a tradition of high wire exploits and made his fortune walking on a tightrope across the Niagra Gorge in America.
In 1891 an estimated 30,000 people came to Clough Hall Park to see him.
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He was known to have tightrope walked blindfolded, with a wheelbarrow, but is most famous for tightrope walking carrying people who would come to watch him on his back.
Condo and the Little All Right were one of the first performers at the park. Otherwise known as the ‘The Original Japanese Wonder’ this group was best known as a Troupe group, acting, dancing and performing different circus skills.
Modern ballroom dance has its roots early in the 20th century, when several different things happened more or less at the same time. The first was a movement away from the sequence dances towards dances where the couples moved independently.
During the Paradise of the Potteries, a platform big enough to fit 1,000 dancing couples was built above the park’s lake.
