Wonderland in Cleethorpes was once the largest amusement attraction on the east coast, able to host 20,000 people at a time, and as it was mainly indoors it was also fairly weatherproof.
Constructed by East Coast Amusements, using 350 tons of steel, 60 tons of corrugated iron and 28 tons of glass – it opened in 1926.
Covering three-and-a-half acres, the construction cost around £30,000 and provided work for over 100 men.
It meant the brief removal and reconstruction of what was known as the ‘Dip the Dips’ – a wooden rollercoaster which pre-dated the building by several years.
Day trippers flocked to enjoy the range of indoor amusements including rifle shooting, hoopla, fortune tellers a tattoo artist and even water dodgems.
It had funfair rides such as the ghost train, dodgems, waltzers, chairoplanes, bowl slides, children’s merry-go-round rides and outside, the big dipper – which was declared unsafe in 1974 and demolished in 1980.
Other favourites included the Fairy River, which offered a placid and dark voyage in flat-bottomed, wooden boats through enchanting painted scenery.
Visitors could buy tickets to use the rides or amusements, sixpence (2.5p) was the going rate and half-price for children, which bought a memorable ride in the articulated cars with their dragon figures at the front.
Starting from Wonderland, the cars climbed up the long incline to the top bend and then came a series of exhilarating ups and downs, terminating in the home straight with the man pulling on the brake which ended the ride.
A long-running feature of this well known venue, which has taken on many forms in the years is its Sunday Market, which grew in popularity steadily from 1983, when it boasted as many as 300 stalls.
Town and Country Markets were then passed on the business in 2005 and it was put up for sale again in 2011. In more recent years, Wonderland has been used as a go-kart track, a Nerf Wars centre and a venue for concerts and wrestling shows.
Here are some wonderful pictures of Wonderland and its attractions over the years.
Figure 8 Cleethorpes – the wooden framed big dipper at Cleethorpes around 1908
(Image: Roy Sharkey postcard collection)Advert for Wonderland – Cleethorpes Ad taken from 1934 Cleethorpes Carnival Programme
(Image: Submitted Picture by Frank Mcnaught )The Mancho Tables, just one of the attractions at Wonderland in the 1920’s
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )On the Water Dodgems at the end of the prom at Cleethorpes in 1946
(Image: Submitted picture by Wally Bird)Wally Bird on the Water Dodgems at Cleethorpes in 1946
(Image: Submitted picture by Wally Bird)The big dipper at Wonderland – as viewed from the sea at Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )Amusements at Cleethorpes – Water Dodgems and the Figure Eight Railway
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph)Who rode the big dipper at Cleethorpes?
(Image: Picture Submitted by Jeff Beedham)Lilian and Thelma Birkett pictured (front) on the Big Dipper at Wonderland, Cleethorpes, in 1946
(Image: Submitted photo)Fun on the dipper at Wonderland which was declared unsafe in 1974 and demolished in 1980
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )Pauline Gee and Brenda Brocksom pictured on the Big Dipper at Wonderland, Cleethorpes, in September 1949. They are seated behind the two boys at the front
(Image: Submitted picture by Pauline Hemingray)Wonderland in Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )A trip on the railway at Cleethorpes with a look back at some of the engines which ran along the sea front in years past. The driver is at the controls for another trip on the WMR (Wonderland Miniature Railway)
(Image: Submitted Picture by Frank Priest)The locomotive which used to run under the Big Dipper at Wonderland at the end of the North Promenade in Cleethorpes. The picture was sent in by Rodger Warwick of The Ridgeway, Grimsby. He used to drive the engine in the late sixties. It is pictured on the turntable outside the sheds
(Image: Rodger Warwick)Old model railway that ran underneath the big dipper at Wonderland, Cleethorpes. This photograph shows the staff that worked on the railway
(Image: Submitted Picture by Janine Tanner)Brenda Gibney (left) and Mary Butler pictured enjoying a ride on the carousel at Wonderland, Cleethorpes, in 1957
(Image: Submitted Picture by Brenda Precious)Wonderland Miniature Railway
(Image: Submitted by Michael Foxon)Pictured on the Dodgems at Wonderland in the late 1940s or early 1950s are Mr J Matthew (left) and David Jenson
(Image: Submitted Picture by Mr J Matthew)Photo taken at Wonderland in 1950
(Image: Submitted photo)Arthur Taylor fixing the cars at Wonderland, Cleethorpes, c1945
(Image: Submitted photo)The jets ride at Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Submitted by David Coley)Miniature Railway at Wonderland, Cleethorpes – Armas Best driving the Grimsby Town locomotive, watched closely by regular driver Jack Bradshaw
(Image: Submitted Picture by Doug Best)Miniature Railway Station at Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Submitted Picture by Doug Best)A busy scene at Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )Looking dapper in his dickie bow is 18-year-old Howard Abernethie (left) with his hand on the beer pump. Taking a slurp is David Hewitt. . The picture was taken at Wondersnaps in Wonderland, Cleethorpes in July 1955 and all the drinks were fakes!
(Image: Submitted by Howard Abernethie)Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph)April 1953 Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )Amusements at Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Submitted by NELC Hugh Winfield)Peggy Pattinson (far left) on one of the rides at Wonderland, Cleethorpes. Her friend, Carol Glover, is front right
(Image: Submitted photo)Mid-afternoon scene inside Wonderland, when holidaymakers thronged Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )Wonderland, Cleethorpes, as it looked in 1959
(Image: Submitted Picture by Doug Best)The gallopers at Wonderland, Cleethorpes.
The waltzers at Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph)Waltzer amusements at Wonderland, Cleethorpes
(Image: Submitted photo)July 2004: Interior of Cleethorpes Sunday Market, Wonderland, North Promenade, Cleethorpes.
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )July 2004: Cleethorpes Sunday Market, Wonderland, North Promenade
(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )