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Jacey Normand takes a trip back in time to the days of Belle Vue Manchester. They used to call it Pleasure Land. The Jewel of the North - where Manchester went to play.

Belle Vue had a zoo, the circus, a funfair, a boating lake, speedway, boxing, wrestling, and even hair raising beauty pageants.

It became a way of life for many Northerners.

In its heyday Belle Vue attracted two million visitors a year and a record 180,000 on one Bank Holiday.

The Belle Vue story started in 1836 when local gardener John Jenison opened a small aviary and gardens on the site.

It proved so popular that he developed it into a Zoological Gardens, bringing in exotic animals like lions and tigers.

The Jenison family ran Belle Vue for more than 90 years. Their motto was "something for everyone".

Belle Vue鈥檚 attractions became regular features on Pathe newsreels and were shown in cinemas throughout the land.

Belle Vue finally closed its doors in 1977. The Circus continued for a short while but left for good in 1982.

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