Exeter Exchange: The London Menagerie

Did you know a seventeenth century edict prohibited exotic animals being exhibited in London's streets?

This ban wasn't out of concern for public safety, but because the privilege of showing rare animals (and the associated revenues) belonged to the keeper of his Majesty's lions, at the Tower of London. However, in a city hungry for novel entertainment, the showmen merely moved their lions and tigers to fairs and back alleys. But in 1793 one such itinerant showman, Gilbert Pidcock, dodged the issue and established a privately-owned menagerie which he opened to London's public.

Inside the Exeter Exchange (also known as the Exeter 'Change)

Gilbert Pidcock bought a four-storey building, the Exeter Exchange, in the Strand. It seems likely Pidcock wanted a place to overwinter his animals when not touring the country, and later realised there was a demand to exhibit in London all year round. His collection of exotic animals included a rhinoceros, kangaroo, zebra, lynx and some rare birds. Later he added tigers and an elephant. The latter is all the more surprising because the animals were kept indoors - on the first floor and above - the ground floor being occupied by shops.

The Stand, London - in the 19th century

Pidcock's Menagerie grew in popularity at a time when the Tower Menagerie was shabby and in decline. Although situated in central London, it seems the city authorities were remarkably tolerant of Pidcock's establishment, even if newspapers frequently published letters complaining about jungle noises disturbing the peace, and noxious smells issuing from the building.

When Pidcock died in 1810 the menagerie eventually came under the ownership of Edward Cross (Pidcock's deputy and a skilled animal keeper) Cross had an eye for publicity and in adverts likened himself to:

"…that primeval collector of natural curiosities, Old Noah."

Edward Cross

Indeed, Cross' collection included Chunee (an elephant), Nero (a large lion), four other lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, antelopes, camels, llamas, bison and sea lions! That's not to mention a large collection of birds from ostriches, to five species of eagles, and vultures.

The menagerie was open 9 am to 9pm and it cost a shilling to see the three main exhibits, or two shillings to view everything. The most popular time to visit was at 8pm when the animals were fed and Chunee, the elephant rang a loud bell to signal the start of feeding time.

"The Lords of Parliament and the lions of Exeter Change all dined at about eight."
William Clarke, journalist.

The Exeter Exchange - note the banner displaying exotic animals.

And finally: one famous visitor to the menagerie was Lord Byron. He remarked that the face of the hippopotamus reminded him of Lord Liverpool (the Prime Minister) - [This seems rather dubious since no record exists of a hippo being exhibited] Other illustrious visitors included Princess Victoria (the future Queen), Robert Browning and Charles Dickens.

The caption reads :
Exeter Change, Strand, site of Edward Cross's
menagerie, shortly before its demolition in 1829

If you have enjoyed this post you may also be interested in:
The Wonderful Dog: Munito
The Learned Pig

 

Tower of London: Polar Bears in the Thames

In this the third post about animals at the Tower of London, we look at bears - or polar bears to be precise.

One of the sculptures (made from chicken wire) at the Tower of London

In 1252 King Henry III (1207 - 72) was given a Norwegian bear by King Hakon V. This bear was described as "pale" , which is significant because the black bear (albeit sometimes light coloured) was common in England at the time. It seems likely that this bear was significantly different in order to merit it being a gift, and was probably a polar bear.

The bear arrived with a keeper, and once again the Sheriffs of the City of London were asked [told] to pay for the animals upkeep. The Sheriffs allotted around tuppence a day, which considering the prevalent poverty of the day, must have seemed galling to some. However, after a year, the sheriffs decided it was time the bear caught it's own food in the Thames; at that time the Thames was a clean river, rich with salmon and fish.

"fat and sweet salmon [are] dailie taken."

 

The White Tower at the Tower of London

The bear was fitted with a chain and muzzle, and the keeper expected to take the beast down to the river to fish and bathe. The sheriffs thoughtfully provided the keeper with a thick cape, presumably to keep out the cold on the riverbank.

"Greetings. We [the King] command you that for the keeper of our white bear , recently arrived from Norway… ye cause to be had one muzzle and one iron chain to hold the bear without the water, one long strong cord, to hold the same bear fishing or washing himself in the Thames."

The Tower of London with Tower Bridge (over the Thames)
in the background.

King Edward I (Henry III's son) took an interest in his father's menagerie. He employed 4 keepers, each paid 3d each a day, plus a 10d allowance towards animal food. Some thirty years after the original bear, records exist of payment for a white bear called Lynn (she originated from a place of the same name) being transported by boat (presumably up the Thames) to the Tower.

A few centuries later, it seems curiosity was superseded by cruelty. King James I of England (1603-25) made the bears, lions and dogs fight each other. To this end he had a platform built from which he could watch the so-called 'sport'. This was a vicious activity where the bears were often chained and toothless, and had massive mastiff dogs set on them. The 'sport' was in betting on which animal would inflict the most damage.

 

And finally, did you know that most polar bears are Capricorns - since the majority are born between late December and mid January.