Leeds's Victorian bear pit in Headingley set to reopen to public.

Maggiemaybe

I’ve just checked out the Leeds+ Facebook page and the reaction from Headingley locals seems to be positive on the whole. Plenty of people are saying how good it will be to have this dilapidated site cleaned up at long last and brought into community use.

There are others who think the appalling bear baiting that wasn’t actually carried out there shouldn’t be celebrated.

Some who feel so strongly about zoos being cruel that they don’t want this one to be remembered in any way - a valid opinion of course, but I can’t help wondering why they don’t campaign to have existing zoos closed, instead of fretting about this very small, short-lived one that closed down in the Victorian era. Apart from the bear, it only had a pair of swans, birds of prey, tortoises and “some monkeys”. No wonder it didn’t last long!

Some who want the money spent on filling in potholes, oblivious to the fact that it’s the Leeds Civic Trust charity’s money, not Leeds Council’s.

And a special few who are up in arms because they’ve understood that real live bears are going to be brought back to be put on public display in the Headingley bear pit and that would be so cruel. It takes all sorts.

Love it! 😂

I blocked you from sending them btw after the last one

You have sent me a pm daidysnne, it is unfortunate you have forgotten

JaneJudge

That was to daisy Anne, it hasn’t posted the quote. I don’t know why you get off on being so rude to people btw. You sound more angry than anyone else (and that’s an observation not a personal attack so there is no need to PM again)

I have not sent you a PM. I haven't sent any PMs. Please do not set such lying scenarios up or I will report you.

JaneJudge

That was to daisy Anne, it hasn’t posted the quote. I don’t know why you get off on being so rude to people btw. You sound more angry than anyone else (and that’s an observation not a personal attack so there is no need to PM again)

That is a personal attack. How can it be anything else? It personal - you say I am a) rude and b) angry and it is only aimed at me.

I loved the bear pit as a child. It was indeed a curiosity and there was nothing to say what it’s true history was so my imagination had free rein. I’m really pleased it is to be restored and that the people of Leeds will be able to learn about its history.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-363180-b2d8d17d-ef9a-4db2-8f3b-57586e29d2d9.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-821151-762752b1-04e7-4c0e-96c0-07144ef8311f.jpeg

We have an original Victorian bear pit in Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens. It houses a bronze sculpture of a standing brown bear and he’s very popular with both children and adults. In the nineteenth century there were two bears housed in it, but purely as a curiosity. However, the public complained that the bears, not much given to activity, were boring, and that their stench and noise wasn't in keeping with the gardens, and an 1856 meeting suggested the bear pit be converted into a vinery.

That was to daisy Anne, it hasn’t posted the quote. I don’t know why you get off on being so rude to people btw. You sound more angry than anyone else (and that’s an observation not a personal attack so there is no need to PM again)

Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I’m not self obsessed 😂

Grantanow

I can't see what tree felling has to do with restoring a bear pit (which I still think is a waste of money whether public or charitable funds(.

Trees will be felled in the regeneration.

I just re-read the article- it's not going to become a public space, visitors will be able to climb the turrets and gaze down into the pit containing a bear sculpture.

I can't see what tree felling has to do with restoring a bear pit (which I still think is a waste of money whether public or charitable funds(.

JaneJudge

DaisyAnne

Are you a Mrs Angry? I didn't check; the comment was general

The "tree thing" will have two sides to it. I just wonder how, without the knowledge of both, anyone make a decision about what happened?

I don’t understand why you hAve singled me out, can you explain?

Very self-obsessed comment. I replied to the question you asked me to tell you my previous comment was general. It was written as a generalisation.

Would you like me to stop replying to you when you ask me a question?

Thought I was the only one. We had to have a very large tree (silky oak) felled last week and I was sad all day. Thinking of the birds that loved the tall tree, the possums and all the living things . My husband thought I was nuts!

Fleurpepper

Talking about the bear pit here- not tree vandalism. I have cried many times when witnessing beloved trees being cut- many times. It affects me very deeply.

There is a connection; the original article mentions the need to remove some overgrown trees, which provoked a few adverse comments on here.

However, removing a few scrubby, trees for the project in no way compares to the dreadful vandalism shown in Callistemon's photos; or the appalling destruction a few years ago of many of Sheffield's lovely street trees.

Talking about the bear pit here- not tree vandalism. I have cried many times when witnessing beloved trees being cut- many times. It affects me very deeply.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-595113-312475281-118324997715513-8382303694149497301-n.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202303/medium-673298-0-armada-way-trees-8.jpg

Fleurpepper

nanna8

I must have had a memory of my auntie describing the bears. I always was very imaginative as a child. To me I associate it with cruelty and bear baiting, and people gawking at a proud and unfortunate animal. Awful . I don’t like zoos much, either.

So do I. But I think it is best to face those old demons, and explain to children what happened in the past- rather than pretend it didn't. Same with other things, on a different level, like slavery.

Don't hide, don't pretend, and explain best you can.

I agree.

We cannot learn from history if we sanitise it or pretend it didn't happen.

However, just to clarify - this is what happens in the name of regeneration or, as some may term it, vandalism:

nanna8

DaisyAnne, JaneJudge is most definitely not a Mrs. Angry. She is a valued member who has a mind of her own.

It's me, I think, getting angry upset about trees being chopped down to make a concrete recreational space for humans.

Tree felling is all rather a raw subject at the moment.

#MrsAngry

Fair comment, Fleur.

nanna8

I must have had a memory of my auntie describing the bears. I always was very imaginative as a child. To me I associate it with cruelty and bear baiting, and people gawking at a proud and unfortunate animal. Awful . I don’t like zoos much, either.

So do I. But I think it is best to face those old demons, and explain to children what happened in the past- rather than pretend it didn't. Same with other things, on a different level, like slavery.

Don't hide, don't pretend, and explain best you can.

DaisyAnne, JaneJudge is most definitely not a Mrs. Angry. She is a valued member who has a mind of her own.

DaisyAnne

Are you a Mrs Angry? I didn't check; the comment was general

The "tree thing" will have two sides to it. I just wonder how, without the knowledge of both, anyone make a decision about what happened?

I don’t understand why you hAve singled me out, can you explain?

I must have had a memory of my auntie describing the bears. I always was very imaginative as a child. To me I associate it with cruelty and bear baiting, and people gawking at a proud and unfortunate animal. Awful . I don’t like zoos much, either.

Why do you think it’s a “rotten thing”? I’m genuinely curious.

There hasn’t been a bear at the Headingley bearpit since 1848, nanna8.

I have a very distant memory of being taken to see a bear there. I must have been about 4 . I was always sad in zoos and seeing animals in captivity ,especially in the old days when the cages were vile. Now they are much,much better and at least try to make them look a bit like their native surroundings. I would knock the rotten thing down and bulldoze it if it were me.