British Trade Tokens, Tickets and Passes, Numismatic Books

Parks and Gardens, Lancashire, Manchester, Jennison’s Zoological Gardens (2), both brass, eagle, rev. stag, 28mm, 5.91g/12h (D & W 90/331; MG 894; Noble II, 817), lion, rev. elephant, 25mm, 6.19g/12h (D & W 90/332; MG 895; Noble II, 817) [2]. Fine to very fine £30-40

Provenance: D.C. Pottinger Collection [first from J. Whitmore November 1989, second from Oxford Coin Fair April 1978).

John Jennison (1793-1869), previously proprietor of the Adam & Eve pub, Stockport, where he kept a few animals, purchased a 99-year lease on Belle Vue House in 1836, developed the gardens and opened it to the public as Jennison’s Strawberry Gardens. With the acquisition of more animals the business changed its name to Jennison’s Zoological Gardens. After Jennison’s death the business was run by his descendants, the family selling the park to Belle Vue (Manchester) Ltd in 1925