Blackgang Chine

Blackgang Chine

Blackgang Chine
Blackgang Chine (Isle of Wight)
Location Blackgang, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom
Coordinates 50.58889°N, 1.31444°W
Owner Alexander Dabell/Vectis Ventures Ltd./ The Dabell Family
General Manager Dan Selle
Opened May 1843[1]
Operating season March to November
Rides
Total 3
Roller coasters 1
Water rides 1
Website Blackgangchine.com
The site of Blackgang Chine.
The remains of the Chine in 2008

Blackgang Chine is the UK's oldest amusement park. Named after a now-destroyed chine (a coastal ravine) in the soft Cretaceous cliffs, it is about 6 miles from Ventnor at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight just below St Catherine's Down. The park is owned by the Dabell family. Blackgang Chine has a sister park named Robin Hill. Blackgang Chine is home to life-sized Pirate Ships, Fairy Villages and Castles, Dodo Valleys, and the original Cowboy Town. Owing to the unstable land on which the park is situated, landslides occur frequently, meaning that attractions have continually to be moved further inland to safer ground.

History

During Blackgang Chine's early years, the area was a steep gaunt ravine, overlooking Chale Bay, stretching around 3/4 of a mile down to the shore. It was a quiet place, visited by few people other than local fishermen with rumours of a thriving smuggling trade, which has now become a key theme of the park.[2] On 11 October 1836 the cargo ship Clarendon was wrecked at the foot of Blackgang Chine, with the loss of all aboard.[3]

During Victorian England, people were seeking out new healthy holiday resorts, ideally near the coast. As the railway network was getting closer and closer to the South Coast, the Isle of Wight was becoming an increasingly attractive holiday destination. Alexander Dabell, the founder of the park, soon realised the business potential of this, trying various ventures. In 1839 Alexander became friends with a publican who had recently built a hotel at Blackgang, which now forms the Pirates' Pantry restaurant and administration offices.<ref name="Blackgang Chine history"/ After studying the gault and chine gorge, he knew instantly that gardens could be set up that would appeal to the Victorians as a romantic holiday destination. This along with the increasing popularity of the adjacent Sandrock Spring (a Chalybeate spring) led to Alexander concluding a lease for the site in 1842 and the establishment of Blackgang Chine amusement park in 1843. The area was then opened up to the public with pathways built down to the ravine and gardens landscaped on the cliffs. Steps were built to give access to the beach from the lower road. Since the park was opened, it has remained a family business, with the descendants of Alexander Dabell owning it ever since.[4][5] The park's establishment in 1843 allegedly makes it the oldest theme park in the UK. Its initial theme of a general-purpose scenic and curiosity park led to one of its most famous attractions, a large whale skeleton, which had been washed up near the coast of The Needles in 1842, and is still a showpiece today.[2]

The chine today

Owing to continual landslides, the chine itself has been destroyed. However, coastal erosion still has a significant impact on the area today. The park's focus now is themed entertainment for families with young children, lifesize animatronic dinosaurs being a noted feature. The same owners run a sister site, the Robin Hill countryside adventure park.[6] Clifftop walks in and around the area give panoramic views of the English Channel and the south-western Isle of Wight coast.

According to a May 2000 talk to the Isle of Wight Postcard Club by the then Director, Mr Simon Dabell, the etymology is simply "black pathway" (the original appearance of the chine),[5] but the theme park understandably fosters the interpretation of a smuggling origin. Thus visitors to the park are greeted by a gigantic fibreglass smuggler between whose legs they could pass to enter.[6]

The Blackgang Chine park is featured in the book Bollocks to Alton Towers, a humorous book concerned with "uncommonly British days out". It was chosen for its apparent eccentricity.[7] Blackgang Chine is also featured in a documentary based on Bollocks to Alton Towers called Far From the Sodding Crowd. In a recent interview, star of the Harry Potter films, Rupert Grint praised the park, stating that his family's favourite holiday was visiting the Isle of Wight, their favourite attraction being Blackgang Chine.[8]

The park is frequently associated with ghosts, particularly related to smugglers, with several tales of sightings around the park. In 2008 a video was recorded, showing what appeared to be the apparition of a girl in a blue dress.[9]

Southern Vectis bus route 6 serves the amusement park on its way between Newport & Ventnor.[10] In the summer, the Island Coaster also stops here.[11]

Geology

Blackgang Chine circa 1910

Sited below the village of Blackgang at the western end of the Undercliff, Blackgang Chine was, historically, a spectacular ravine (in 1800 a "steep gaunt ravine" descending 500 feet over about three-quarters of a mile).[2]

The location is based on unstable terrain owing to the underlying Gault Clay strata, resulting in a succession of huge landslips giving the area a very rugged appearance akin to the better known Jurassic Coast.[12] Currently the cliffs are eroding at a rate of about 3.5 metres per year, although this process is not gradual. Large areas of land tend to collapse in stages after periods of heavy rain. The areas most recent and destructive cliff falls occurred in 1928, 1961 and 1994.[13] Continuing landslides and coastal erosion swept away the paths in the early 1900s, and have since obliterated the chine itself and repeatedly forced the park owners to move the clifftop facilities inland.[14]

Park guide

The park combines whimsical and unusual outdoor and walkthrough attractions with award-winning heritage exhibitions and a couple of significant rides.[15][16] Below is a list of the attractions currently in operation at the park:

Attraction Date opened Description Image
Cliffhanger 2005 A small roller coaster perched 400 feet above the sea located next to the cliff's edge. The coaster reaches heights of 11 metres before dropping in curves and twists at about 35 kilometres per hour.
Water Force 1998 A 100 ft-long water slide with three chutes. Two of the chutes are open and known as 'overflow 1 and 2', while the third is enclosed and known as the 'plughole'. The ride is done in small boats.
Rumpus Mansion 1993 A walk-through attraction inside an old manor house, home to animated goblins, mischievous boggarts and other fantasy creatures.
Nurseryland 1974 Various 'life-sized' nursery rhyme characters, many of which are animated. 'Old Mother Hubbard' is pictured.
Water Gardens 1962 An attractive garden area, featuring ponds, fountains and a large gnome display (now removed).
Hedge Maze 1963 A large hedge maze with path to the centre.
Snakes and Ladders 1990 A giant version of the board game, with large slides.
Restricted area 5 2014 Features animatic dinosaurs that move and roar when people walk past. Also features some original fiberglass dinosaurs from Dinosaurland for children to climb on.
Mouth of Hell 1972 A giant fibreglass mouth, that visitors can walk into. Originally part of Dinosaurland, but now a separate attraction in the former location of The Triassic Club.
Cowboy Town (formerly Buffalo Canyon) 1976 (remodelled 2015) Full-scale Old West frontier town including a saloon, jail, covered wagons, undertakers and more. Also features a Café (La Cantina), selling American-style food, and a Shop (General Stores), selling cap guns and cowboy-themed supplies.
The Musical Pet Shop 1992 Animatronic animals sing a rewritten version of 'Up a Lazy River'.
Crooked House 1968 A small walk-through attraction of disorientating crooked corridors and humorous scenes.
Butterfly Walk 2008 Larger-than-life butterflies, with signs denoting their respective names.
Giant Bug Walk 2009 Oversized arthropod models
Smugglerland 1978 Features the 'Jolly Smuggler' play ship (removed 2011), a play pub, and the Smugglers' Cave, which tells the story of a shipwreck.
Pirate's Barrel Ride 2006 A themed version of the traditional fairground teacups.
World of Timber 1981 Originally known as Blackgang Sawmill, an award-winning heritage exhibition 'telling the story of timber' in the setting of an old water mill. Some of the features include Blacksmith's Display, Wheelwright's Workshop, Mill Owner's Cottage, numerous working steam and oil engines, Timber at Sea, Timber in the Home and Mill Pond Gardens.
The Wight Experience 2008 Exciting film show featuring aerial views of the island by helicopter, made by 'Flying Pictures', who worked on many of the James Bond and Harry Potter films.
iScream (formerly known as Chocolate Heaven) 2008 A shop selling island-made sweets, chocolate and dairy ice cream.
BBC Coast 2010 Exhibition based on the popular BBC Two television series, looking at the Isle of Wight coastline, and telling the story of Blackgang, the disappearing village.
Fairyland 2011 Features a Magical Fairy Village, including a Fairy Castle and the story of Sleeping Beauty.
Cask and Weevil (Also known as 'The Sailors Return') 2011 A tunnel, with spinning lights, that visitors walk through. The spinning lights cause an optical illusion, which means that you can't walk through it without feeling dizzy.
Valley of the Dodos 2013 Features fibreglass dodos, that move when visitors press buttons.
Pirate Cove 2012 Features 2 lifesize wooden pirate ships, with water canons (which people must press to operate) firing from each ship to the other.
Hall of Mirrors In present form, 2016 Various wonky and bent mirrors that distort your reflection in various ways. Originally located next to the main entrance, it closed in 2013 to make way for the 'Dinostore' shop. Re-opened in 2016 in a new location next to the 'BBC Coast' exhibition.

Former attractions

Attraction Date opened Date closed Description Image
Jungleland 1978/9 2008 Life size fiberglass jungle animals. Replaced by Butterfly Walk/Giant Bug Walk
Model Village 1953 1980s Closed and removed owing to landslips. Photo shows Cowes Castle.
Buffalo Creek 1976 1994 Some removed following 1994 landslip; remainder relocated uphill to form Buffalo Canyon.
Adventureland 1970 1994 Closed after the 1994 landslide. The derelict remains of this area, including a roundabout (pictured) and the old mission control building, can still be seen just to the west of the main park.
Tornado Never Opened 2004(removed) Removed after many failed attempts to fix the ride structure which was deemed unsafe.
Pirate Fort Play area 2008 Replaced by The Wight Experience.
Dinosaurland 1972 2013 Life size fiberglass Dinosaurs. Replaced by Restricted area 5
The Triassic Club 1994 2016 Comic animated walk-through attraction. Features Darwin the Allosaurus, dressed in a tuxedo, who invites guests 'to dinner' and sings a unique version of the 'Eton Boating Song'.

Latest developments

In 2010, a new section to the park opened, designed for adult visitors and known as "Blackgang's Disappearing Village". The new section includes a new attraction "BBC Coast" which tells the story of the island's coast and illustrates the cliff falls and erosion that Blackgang has suffered from over the years. In addition to this new attraction, the new section includes older attractions such as the 87' skeleton of the whale, Wight Flight, Timber World, and the shop named Chocolate Heaven. A new cafe restaurant has also been opened adjacent to the village and known as the Ship-Ashore Tea Rooms.

In 2011, a long awaited fairy land section has been constructed near the base of the old fairy castle. Other changes include a newly rebuilt pirate ship and a "rolling barrel challenge" named The Sailors Return.[17]

In 2014, 'Dinosaurland' was replaced by 'Restricted Area 5'. 'Restricted Area 5' is a modernisation of Dinosaurand, featuring animatronic dinosaurs that move and have sound effects (Dinosaurland only had static fibreglass dinosaurs). 3 or 4 of the fibreglass dinosaurs have been moved into restricted area 5, and you are allowed to sit on them. The rest of them have been scrapped.

In 2015, Cowboy Town was remodelled, with new buildings and scenery. A family of animatronic Triceratops were also added to restricted area 5. This replaced the 'mouth of hell', a fibreglass attraction that visitors can climb into. The mouth of hell had been there for a long time, so this was an unpopular move with visitors.

In 2016, The Mouth of Hell was reinstalled, where the Triassic Club used to be. The Triassic club has been removed.

References

  1. ↑ Dear Jack, My great great grandfather founded the park here at Blackgang. However the exact date of opening is not recorded. We do know that he settled a lease on the Chine and its surrounding cliffs in May 1842. However, we believe that he didn't open to the public as a garden until May 1843. You have to bear in mind, that unlike the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, Blackgang was not initially an amusement park but more of a walk down a gorge with a shop and cafe at the top. As a company we celebrate anniversaries based on the 1843 base line as we are confident he was trading properly at the start of that year. A guide book to the Island was published in 1844, by Alexander Dabell with full details of what had been on offer the previous year. With best wishes, Simon Dabell Vectis Ventures Limited
  2. 1 2 3 "Blackgang Chine history". Blackgang Chine. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  3. ↑ Owen Gladdon's Wanderings in the Isle of Wight, "Old Humphrey", E.Stevenson & F.A.Owen, 1855 Google Books retrieved 5 July 2008)
  4. ↑ A Walker's Guide to the Isle of Wight, Martin Collins, Norman Birch, Cicerone Press, 2000, ISBN 1-85284-221-0 (Google Books, retrieved 9 July 2008)
  5. 1 2 May 2000 report, Isle of Wight Postcard Club (retrieved from Internet Archive, 5 July 2008)
  6. 1 2 "Coaster Force - Blackgang Chine". Coaster Force. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  7. ↑ "Quirky British days out". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  8. ↑ "Harry Potter star praises chine". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  9. ↑ "Is this a Blackgang ghost?". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  10. ↑ "Southern Vectis - bus route 6". www.islandbuses.info. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  11. ↑ "Southern Vectis - Island Coaster". www.islandbuses.info. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  12. ↑ World Heritage / Geopark Study, Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment, www.coastalwight.gov.uk (retrieved 3 July 2008).
  13. ↑ "Blackgang Chine Theme Park - The battle against erosion". www.invectis.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  14. ↑ name=walkersguide
  15. ↑ "Attractions at Blackgang Chine". Blackgang Chine. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  16. ↑ "Blackgang Chine Fantasy Park". About Britain. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  17. ↑ "Blackgang for adults - a new attraction for 2010". Blackgang Chine. Retrieved 2009-11-01.

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