Blackgang Chine
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 Entrance to Blackgang Chine amusement park | |
| Location | Blackgang, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom |
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| Coordinates | 50°35′20″N 1°18′52″W / 50.58889°N 1.31444°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1843 |
| Owner | Alexander Dabell/Vectis Ventures Ltd/The Dabell Family |
| General manager | Dan White |
| Slogan | The Land Of Imagination |
| Operating season | March to November |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 5 |
| Roller coasters | 0 |
| Water rides | 1 |
| Website | Blackgangchine.com |
Blackgang Chine is the oldest amusement park in the United Kingdom, having opened in 1843. 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. Blackgang Chine are owned by the Dabell family. Blackgang Chine is home to many lands of imagination, including Pirate Cove, Restricted Area 5, Fairy Land and Village, and Cowboy Town. Owing to the unstable land on which the park is situated, landslides occur frequently, meaning that attractions have been moved further inland to safer ground on several occasions.
History
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During Blackgang Chine's early years, the area was a steep gaunt ravine, overlooking Chale Bay, stretching around three-quarters 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.[1] On 11 October 1836 the cargo ship Clarendon was wrecked at the foot of Blackgang Chine, with the loss of many aboard.[2]
During Victorian times, 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 Chine Cafe (formerly Pirates' Pantry restaurant) and administration offices.[1] 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.[3][4] The park's claim to have been established in 1843 would make it the oldest theme park in the United Kingdom. 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.[1]
The chine today
[edit]
Owing to continual landslides, the chine itself has been destroyed, and 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.[5] 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),[4] but the theme park understandably fosters the interpretation of a smuggling origin. Thus visitors to the park are greeted by a gigantic fibreglass statue of a smuggler between whose legs they could pass to enter.[5]
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.[6] Blackgang Chine is also featured in a documentary based on Bollocks to Alton Towers called Far From the Sodding Crowd. In a 2010 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.[7]
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.[8]
Geology
[edit]
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 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km)).[1]
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.[9] Currently the cliffs are eroding at a rate of about 3.5 metres per year, although this process is not gradual nor consistent.[10] 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.[3]
Park guide
[edit]The park covers over 40 acres of cliff-top gardens and themed 'lands', containing outdoor rides and walkthrough attractions, plus heritage exhibitions. [11][12] Below is a list of the attractions currently in operation at the park:
| Attraction | Date opened | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackgang Beach | 2024 | A sensory experience based around a beach .
Featuring palm trees, washed up cargo and an interactive pool that you can walk over without getting your feet wet. Palm trees, dodos, and seagulls complete the experience . Located on the former site of Cliffhanger. The large water pillow used as the sea was formerly at Robin Hill and known as The Ripple. |
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| The Jolly Robin | 2024 | A ghostly pirate ship ride located in the newly extended Pirate Cove.
The Jolly Robin was formerly called Colossus and has been re-sited with an upgrade from Robin Hill. |
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| Extinction | 2023 | A pendulum thrill ride that rotates 360 degrees spinning the rider around as well as a complete 360 loop the loop. Reaching a height of 18 meters. |   |
| Evolution | 2022 | A 12m-tall drop ride styled as an observation tower, overlooking a Jurassic excavation site and the Restricted Area 5 dinosaur trail. A gondola, seating two rows of five riders, is lifted to the top of the tower before being released in a sequence of rapid drops. |   |
| Shipwrecked | 2022 | A ride themed as a large wrecked galleon, in which a gondola containing three rows of seats is rotated clockwise and anti-clockwise in a vertical circle, reaching a height of approximately 10m.
This ride was closed towards the end of the 2022 season after the ride collapsed. Shipwrecked reopens in 2024. |
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| Water Force | 1998 | A 100 ft-long water slide with three chutes, which visitors descend in small boats.
Two of the chutes are open and referred to as 'Overflow 1' and 'Overflow 2'. The third is enclosed and known as the 'Plughole'. |
 
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| Pirate Barrels | 2006 | A themed version of the traditional fairground teacups. | 
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| Pirate Cove | 2012 | Themed area featuring a pirate play ship 'The Flying Raven' and a French frigate 'L' Mistral'. Onboard are water cannons that can be aimed at the opposing ship.
The cove also features the Crossbones play area , opened in 2007, with climbing nets, rope bridges and slides. Several themed buildings surround the pirate ships, including 'The Vortex' (see separate description) and a pirate shooting gallery. Pirate Cove was previously the site for New Adventureland . |
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| The Vortex | 2011 | A walkthrough rotating 'trommel' tunnel that creates an optical illusion to disorientate visitors. This attraction was originally called 'The Sailor's Return', and later 'The Cask and Weevil', before being renamed again in 2018. |   |
| Giant Smuggler | 1987 | A giant fibre glass smuggler located outside the current chine entrance . |  |
| Shop And Entrance Facilities | 1986 | Based on the inside of a galleon. The newest incarnation of the shop/bazaar and entrance .
Built next door to the old ship ashore inn at that time . |
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| Underwater Kingdom | 2017 | Animated outdoor trail themed as an underwater experience. Built around the old second modern incarnation of the smugglers cave leading to an audio and visual colourful animated walkthrough experience.
Featuring Giuseppe the talking crab a giant whale amongst others. Built on the site of the old fantasy land and the blackgang to Niton derelict coachroad. |
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| Talking Telescopes | 1990s | Coin operated telescopes located at Nursery Land and Pirate Cove .A third may have been located near the maze and water gardens but was removed in the 2010s.
A narration tells stories of smuggling ,folklore,views that are seen and more. |
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| Cowboy Town | 1994 | Full-scale Old West frontier town including a saloon, jail, covered wagons, undertakers and bank. Also features a Café (La Cantina), selling American-style food, and a Shop (General Stores), selling cap guns and cowboy-themed supplies.
Originally Buffalo Creek in Isle of Wight County before its relocation in 1994 . After it was relocated it was renamed in a 1990s guidebook as buffalo canyon . It has gone through a couple of name changes since . Many of the original features from its first layout were retained during this move. The notable exceptions being Fort Buffalo , the trappers cabin and The trading Post building . |
      
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| Restricted Area 5 | 2014 | Themed trail with animated dinosaurs that roar and move when approached by visitors.
It was redeveloped from the original Dinosaurland trail and retains several of the original figures. In 2022 a new walkway and below ground footpath was added , including new dinosaurs. |
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| Mouth of Hell | 1972 | A giant head that can be explored and climbed inside. Originally opened with 'Dinosaurland' but relocated in 2016. |   |
| Dinostore | 2016 | A dinosaur themed shopping outlet . Located in the former Hall of Mirrors area . |  |
| Boot Hill | 1976 | A collection of wooden crosses depicting the names of fictional people and their humorous ways of death .
Originally in Buffalo Creek , then re sited and expanded with Boot Hill 2 in 1994 when the cowboy town was moved. |
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| Rumpus Crypt | Located near Rumpus Mansion on the lawn . |  | |
| Pirate Blasta | Pirate themed water cannon shooting arcade game. |  | |
| iScream | Ice cream parlour catering for humans and canines. |  | |
| Chocobloc | An outlet selling sweet treats, Formerly the Waffle House .
The building was originally a house called Brackadale. |
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| Pirate Bounty | Small arcade consisting of a crane grab machine to win a soft toy. |  | |
| The Quack Shack | A small arcade containing two crane grab machines and a change dispenser . Located in Pirate Cove .
The two bones are reused from the former Fort Tortuga entrance . |
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| Treasure Cove Shooting Gallery | Shooting gallery with various life size interactive pirate characters. Located in Pirate Cove . |   | |
| Way Out West Shooting Gallery | Shooting gallery with various life size interactive cowboy characters. |   | |
| Rumpus Mansion | 1993 | Added as the big new attraction for blackgang chines 150th birthday .
An animated haunted walkthrough attraction inside an old manor house, now infested with boggarts, goblins and other creatures from folklore. Rumpus Mansion was built inside of an old residential blackgang dwelling called Five Rocks . |
  
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| The Musical Pet Shop | 1992 | A humorous 'pet shop' hosted by Mr Mel-O-Dee with animated singing animals that come to life when buttons are pressed.
The attraction was updated with a tweak to some of the animals and the music in 2020. |
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| Valley of the Dodos | 2013 | Wooden outdoor trail featuring animated Dodo figures that squawk at passers by.
The premise is explained, on attraction signs, as the Dodos having hatched from eggs left behind by a pirate fleet, and uncovered in the park many years later. The area was partly restyled for 2018 adding more dodos and a rope net bridge . |
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| Crooked House | 1968 | A small walkthrough attraction of disorientating crooked corridors and humorous scenes.
Originally located in Adventureland . Later resited near dodo valley in the late 1980s . In 2022 the crooked house was completely revamped inside , removing all previous exhibits. Now a cowboy and fairy themed interior of animated cut out talking characters . Some of the in house narration was changed for 2024 . |
  
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| Moby Dick's Revenge | 1974 | Giant whale, inside which jets of water are squirted at visitors. This was originally part of Nurseryland, named Jonah's Whale, and featured aquaria containing live tropical fish.
It was relocated opposite the Cliffhanger rollercoaster. It was announced in 2024 that the whale is to be moved and incorporated into the new area housing The Jolly Robin . In the first week of April 2024 the whale was dismantled in sections and moved from the old St Catherine's Quay site. The repainted , slightly redesigned whale opened summer 2024 . |
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| Nurseryland | 1974 | A wooded trail featuring scenes depicting characters of various nursery rhymes, many of which are animated.
Featuring 'The House That Jack Built', a two-level walkthrough where visitors are challenged to find all of the animals and characters mentioned in the famous rhyme. Characters include Humpty Dumpty ,The 3 Little Pigs, Hickory Dickory Dock ,See Saw Marjorie Daw , Old Mother Hubbard and a enormous shoe that houses A Little Old Woman . Nurseryland was expanded for the 1980 season with new additions. Little Miss Muffet was removed circa 2020 . A vicar on a seat that has no connection to any nursery rhyme provides a popular photo opportunity along with the famous toadstool which since the 1990s has its date changed annually to the corresponding year . Also in Nurseryland is the wishing tree, a tree that houses a family of musical pixies inside. Nurseryland was sited on an area previously on park maps named as the fern Glen. |
    
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| Chimney pot Walk | late 1960s / early 1970s | A short walkthrough of various old chimney pots of differing shapes and sizes .
The main large chimney pots are laid out to look like a chess set complete with a black and white chequered board . A natural water source also flows through the gardens . The original footpath had stepping stones made from concrete slabs with water flowing through . This was near the small pond . |
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| Fairyland | 2011 | Themed as a Fairy Village, this area includes the Fairy Castle, with scenes depicting the story of Sleeping Beauty (first opened in 1973, re-sited in 1990, then again in 1994 following the landslip of that year).
According to a 1990 guidebook the castle is based on one in Austria . Fairyland includes the sad looking toadstool , a toadstool seating area . Look closely in the trees for fairies , frogs and other assorted creatures .Also look out for a former Rumpus Clock Tower survivor on the footpath leading to Fairyland. |
  
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| Snakes and Ladders | 1990 | A hillside re-imagining of the board game, with steps leading up to large slides at different levels.
Relocated to its current location after land movement 1994 . |
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| Captain Jacks | 1992 | A shop located in Pirate Cove selling food ,drinks , toys and souvenirs . |  |
| Talking Rubbish Bins | 1990s | Talking rubbish bins in the shapes of various characters faces asking you to deposit your rubbish in their mouths. Each bin has multiple sayings when you approached them.
Located at iScream , Chocabloc , La Cantina The Jolly Robin. |
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| Hall of Mirrors | 2016 (in present form) | Originally located on early park maps as west of the old main entrance.
It was housed in a metal corrugated iron structure . Then moved to the current version of the entrance and shop in 1986 . This version closed in 2013 to make way for the 'Dinostore' shop. It re-opened in 2016 in a new location next to the 'BBC Coast' exhibition. The building used was originally a house called St Catherines , the childhood home of actress Sheila Hancock. Historically, the original Hall of Mirrors was one of the first attractions at the park, with ten mirrors from Paris being installed in 1933. |
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| Hedge Maze | 1963 | A large hedge maze with viewing platform for spectators to offer help to those inside.
Over 5000 privett bushes were used in its construction . Originally conceived the same time as the water gardens . The maze was extended in the late 1960s . Built on the putting green of the Blackgang Hotel . |
 
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| Giant Bug Walk | 2009 | A hillside trail featuring giant arthropod models, along with an oversized garden shed inhabited by talking gnomes. |  
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| Whale Museum | 2010 (in current form) | Exhibition which features the park's original 19-metre-long fin whale skeleton (on display since 1843) .
The ancient wooden wishing chair is also found near the whales head . |
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| Chine valley gardens and musical bridge | 1987 | Located south of extinction .
Originally discovered in 1985 in scrubland and opened in 1987 . A short landscaped walkway that meanders through a natural brook incorporating a small bridge playing tranquil music . |
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| The Disappearing Village Exhibition | 1994 | An exhibition showing the history of blackgangs landslips in old photographs , newspaper cuttings and models .
Later a landslip simulator room was added featuring BBC local news footage of the landslides of 1994 . |
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Former attractions
[edit]| Attraction | Date opened | Date closed | Description | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chine Cliff Steps | 1843 | 1960s | Various sets of steps leading down the cliffs to the beach below .
Depicted on various vintage postcards . The last incarnation of the steps appear to have been closed permanently in the early 1960s due to crumbling cliffs . The 1960s steps started at the top of the chine near a wooden summer house style hut depicted in vintage postcards . |
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| Jurassica Dinosaur Encounter | 2023 | 2023 | Sited on the former concrete base of the removed cliff hanger rollercoaster.
A seating area for interactive shows. |
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| Crackerjack Amusement Arcade | unknown | 1980s | A small amusement arcade located at the front of the park in part of what is now the chine restaurant .
Consisting of pinball machines and shoot `em up games of the era . |
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| St Catherine's Quay | 1984 | 2016 | A maritime exhibition featuring a real lifeboat , RNIB friendly forester .
Built at a cost of £150,000 in 1984. The working steam powered engine from the paddle steamer Compton castle. Plus a recreation of a longshoreman's 19th century quay. Various other maritime exhibits and a history of the isle of wight ferry services. This also included the whale bones and the wishing chair. |
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| Cliffhanger | 2005 | 2022 | 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. It was removed at the end of the 2022 season.
As of April 2023 cliffhanger has now been renamed rock n roller and is now located at Dreamland , Margate . |
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| Aviaries | unknown | 1980s | A small area of bird aviaries located near the model village and water gardens . |  | |
| Fort Buffalo | 1985 | 1989 | A large wooden play fort with turrets , rope swings and walkways located on a flat plateau at the very base of the chine below buffalo creek.
Removed but not re sited after excessive landslides. |
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| Jungleland | 1978/9 | 2008 | Located south east of dinosaurland , now restricted area 5 .
A walkthrough themed with life size fibreglass jungle animals and sounds. Tarzan was located up in a tree . Most jungleland animals are now relocated to sister park , Robin Hill . |
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| Adventureland | 1970 | 1986 | Closed due to coastal erosion.
This included a collection of old military vehicles, a replica of the spacecraft from the Disney movie The Spaceman and King Arthur called stardust . A representation of the NASA Mission Control was opened in 1980. The old mission control building, can still be seen just to the west of the main park. It was also the original location for the crooked house ( the concrete base is still visible ) Also the smugglers cave was sited here and the entrance archway to it albeit derelict can still be seen in the undergrowth . Remains of this area which included a wicksteed children's roundabout (pictured) was edging nearer the eroding cliff edge and removed in 2018 . It has not returned to the park . A children's play area featuring the wicksteed roundabout , slide and swings were also in this area . |
  
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| New Adventureland | 1986/87 | unknown | Replacing the original Adventureland area due to coastal erosion .
Sited on the area now called pirate cove . Many items from original Adventureland were transported to the new Adventureland . These included military vehicles , stardust space rocket which was a prop from the film " the spaceman and king Arthur AKA unidentified flying oddball." The bloodhound missile , and the neptune submarine from the james bond film " for your eyes only." New play equipment was installed along with Lunar Base , a replacement for Mission control which wasn`t re sited . |
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| Smugglerland | 1978 | 2011 | Originally featured the 'Jolly Smuggler' play ship, a tree-top walk, the 'Smugglers Rest' play inn, and the 'Smugglers' Cave', an animated walkthrough with scenes depicting the 1836 Clarendon shipwreck at Blackgang. Smugglerland was originally sited east of the original adventureland . Both were resited and restyled after frequent landslides in the late 1980s . |  
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| Fantasyland | 1991 | 2016 | A themed area of the park, completed in 1991 and comprising the attractions 'The Weather Wizard' (opened in 1989), 'The Angry Dragon' , The mice in the toadstool and 'The Licorice Factory'. These attractions were removed and the area completely redeveloped to become 'Underwater Kingdom' which opened in 2017. The Dragon returned to the park for 2019, restyled and situated in a large crate outside of the main entrance. The dragon was named by the park as cedric . |  | |
| Dinosaurland | 1972 | 2013 | An outdoor trail featuring life size fibreglass dinosaurs.
Later in the 1980 further fibreglass dinosaurs were added to the original six. On park maps in 1972 Dinosaurland is named Dinosaur Zoo. This name was changed to Dinosaurland This area was upgraded with new animatronic dinosaur figures to become 'Restricted Area 5' in 2014. Some of the original static models were retained. |
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| Blackgang Bluff Observatory And Play Equipment | unknown | 1950s | Located on an area of jutting out coastline marked on maps as Blackgang Bluff .
Bluff meaning a steep slope in the cliff at a vertical angle. A wooden raised platform observatory facing west . Nearby a wooden child's swing and see-saw . Adjacent was a large wooden hut containing a set of avery weighing scales . |
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| Buffalo Creek | 1976 | 1994 | A full size walkthrough wild west cowboy town , complete with indian teepee village .
Located in Frontierland and called buffalo creek in isle of wight county . Built by pinewood studios . Including a bank, gold mine, saloon bar, jail, sit on horse and wagons ,full size locomotive, blacksmiths and more . Constructed way down in a wooded area that was originally land owned by the southlands house . A Trappers cabin depicting a Davey Crockett style character outside of a log cabin , with a mule and two grizzly bears outside . Parts were removed following the 1994 landslip; the remainder was relocated uphill to form Buffalo Canyon, now the Cowboy Town. |
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| The Triassic Club | 1994 | 2016 | An animated walkthrough attraction featuring animatronic talking dinosaurs welcoming you to join them for lunch .
Featuring wallace the butler and darwin the allosaurus . Built on the site of the old swimming pool of the adjacent house five rocks ( rumpus mansion ) The Triassic Dinner Club was removed in 2016 , but the dinosaurs made a one off appearance for a dinosaur themed event a few years later . This area now houses the mouth of hell . |
 
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| Smugglers Cave | 1954 | 2016 | A themed walkthrough with animated displays, depicting the story of the Clarendon ship that was wrecked at Blackgang in 1836.
It originally opened as a simpler version south of the maze as marked on a 1969 map . It was then moved to adventureland in the far west corner of the park in the 1970s .In 1980 the cave was completely revamped inside. FInally after the late 1980s moving to a new location near fantasyland with more animation and built around a building that was the old garage to a house called brackadale . It`s interior of exhibits were removed in 2016/17 and have not been relocated into the park elsewhere . The empty interior of the smugglers cave now forms the entrance of the Underwater Kingdom in 2017. Some of the original smugglers that guarded the cave entrance are now sited near the entrance to the chine car park . |
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| Fort Tortuga | 1997 | 2007 | Themed pirate fort play area, with slides, climbing nets and raised walkways. Also in the fort was a strongroom containing a locked treasure chest and a giant compass. Hidden around the fort were four compass directions. Entering these into the compass opened the treasure chest, revealing pirate gold inside. This area was replaced by The Wight Experience in 2008. The skull from the entrance of fort tortuga was reused at the entrance to the pirates play area near dodo valley. Two of the bones have been reused outside of the Quack Shack . |  | |
| Rumpus Clock Tower | 1994 | 2005 | Animated clock tower which formed the entrance to the bridge towards Rumpus Mansion. At fifteen and thirty minute intervals, various monsters and goblins emerged from behind doors. Upon the hour, a trow lifted the roof up, and two giant gargoyles next to the clock rocked back and forth. A surviving goblin can be found at the entrance to the current fairyland . A surviving gargoyle can be found near rumpus lawn by a pathway. |  | |
| Water Gardens | 1962 | 2017 | A series of ponds, waterfalls and fountains that were originally constructed by the Chine's own staff for 1962. In the 1980s the water gardens also featured six foot high bubble tubes , filled with water and illuminated at night . Due to their eventual proximity to the cliff edge, they were partially redeveloped in 2016. The last remaining pond was filled in during the winter of 2017. From their construction up until 2006, these gardens were one of the main features of the park to be illuminated at night. These illuminations were reinstated from 2015, using new LED lighting. |  
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| Floodlights | 1936 | early 2000s | Thousands of coloured light lighting up the chine gardens , ponds and pathways .
Later to include the themed areas . Advertised as open until 10 PM . |
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| Floodlights
( LED) |
2015 | 2017/18 | A reeboot of the floodlit evenings with modern LED lighting .
Lighting up the paths , ponds , gore cliff and all themed areas . |
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| Butterfly Walk | 2008 | 2017 | Larger-than-life butterflies, with signs denoting their respective names. | 
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| Chine Cascade | unknown | 1970s | An area built around a small planted up natural water cascade featuring garden gnomes . Located near the model village and water gardens . | .jpg) | |
| Magical Music Factory | 2007 | unknown | A walk in experience located in new adventureland .
This only opened for a couple of seasons . A 2007 guidebook says " magical beams of light make you a disco diva " Located on a park map where the shooting gallery now is in 2023 . Not much is known about this attraction . |
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| Myths and Legends | 2001 | 2013 | Film show narrated by Shaw Taylor, telling the stories of local legends, including the famous Giant of Chale, as well as tales of smuggling and shipwrecks at Blackgang. | ||
| The Wight Experience / The Picture House | 2009 | 2017 | Film show of aerial views of the island by helicopter. Produced by 'Flying Pictures', who worked on many of the James Bond and Harry Potter films. |  | |
| Gnomes Garden | 1934 | 2014 | Opened in 1934 to raise money for the local district nurse so they could have a car .
A collection of mainly German garden gnomes doing various day to day chores . Most famous are the gambling gnomes playing cards . Re sited a few times , latterly called Gnomeywood , a play on the word Hollywood . This latter version was opposite chimney pot walk . The last gnomes garden was near the current park entrance but since removed . Most gnomes are believed to now be in storage . But a few have escaped and can be found located especially in the underwater kingdom and nursery land . |
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| Museum | 1958 | c1984 | A 1960s guidebook states that the museum housed many relics from shipwrecks along the coastline .
Also ships in glass bottles , lifebelts from shipwrecks, the wishing chair and the giant whale skeleton . Attached to the old entrance the Museum was closed when the entrance was relocated. Some of the exhibits were then transferred to St Catherine's Quay. |
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| World of Timber / Blackgang sawmill | 1981 | 2016 | Opened to the public on Friday April 17th 1981 .
Entry price was originally adults 30p , children 20 p. Originally called "Blackgang Sawmill", and was a separate attraction from the main park (though visitors could buy a combined ticket for both). The original narration was by TV presenter John Craven . It was an award-winning heritage exhibition 'telling the story of timber' in the setting of an old water mill. Some of the features included the workshops of the blacksmith and wheelwright, the mill owner's cottage, numerous working steam and oil engines, 'Timber at Sea', 'Timber in the Home' and the Mill Pond Gardens, water from which drove the water wheel. This attraction was closed and all its exhibits removed in 2016. |
  
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| Castle | unknown | 1972 | A precursor to the fairy castle.
Simply named as castle in guidebooks. Located on a 1971 park map as south of nurseryland and the old entrance . A small square castle with a single cannon inside that looked out of the entrance . |
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| Astro glider / Orbiter V | 1987 | 1990 | A 28 seater space rocket ship simulator with movement and internal front screen projections.
Located near new adventureland . Depicting a trip from blackgang around the island then into space and back with a space battle at the end . This included a full running commentary . A 1989 guidebook says it was redeveloped in 1988 a year after opening . Removed due to high running costs and updated health and safety regulations . |
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| Model Village | 1953 | 1989 | Rather than a traditional model village, this was a collection of models of buildings from around the Island, including Ryde Pier, Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle. The scale varied from model to model. The "village" was closed and removed owing to landslips. Photo shows the model of Cowes Castle.
The first phase of the model village was removed in May 1989 due to cliff erosion. |
  
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| Stocks & Pillory | unknown | 2019 | A set of stocks and pillory ideal for photo opportunities .
Originally located on a 1960s park map as south of the gnomes garden and entrance at that time . Later moved to outside of the crooked house in new adventureland . Finally after an extension to dodo valley they were removed . They have no longer returned to the park . |
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| Tornado | Never opened | 2004 (removed) | This was removed after many failed attempts to rectify the ride's structure which did not pass required safety tests. | ||
| Bazaar / Ship Shop /Entrance | 1842 | 1988 | Originally the bungalow home of park founder Alexander Dabell.
The entrance and bazaar was located in front of the chine gorge . later extended with round porthole style windows with a footbridge leading off it to the chine gardens. A brand new purpose built shop opened in the old bazaar in 1982 . Closed in 1985 due to coastal erosion , a new shop and entrance were opened in 1986 in its current location .The old buildings were demolished in the summer of 1989. |
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| BBC Coast | 2010 | 2015 | Exhibition based on the popular BBC Two television series, with interactive features exploring the geology of Blackgang and the surrounding Isle of Wight coastline. | ||
| Bodger the badger & Bronty the brontosaurus.Mr Fox the customs officer. | 1990 | 2018 | New mascots were introduced and made special appearances during the main height of season . After a long retirement at the end of the 1990s both mascots made a one off return on blackgang chines 175th birthday opening day in 2018 for the benefit of the blackgang chine memories facebook group . |   | |
| Shipwreck Collection | unknown | 1960s | A collection of various ships cannons , bells , wheels and other items .
Salvaged from local shipwrecks . Lined up along the cliff of the original chine gardens. |
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| Baby Whale Skeleton | 1890s | late 1960s | A real life baby whale skeleton .
Located outdoors in all weathers . Removed after decades of disintegration by the weather . Not to be confused with the original and still remaining whale skeleton . |
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| Mill Pond Gardens | 1980s | 2017 | A short walk around the fish ponds and grassed areas to the rear of the blackgang sawmill / world of timber exhibit.
A Romany gypsy caravan , originally sited in nurseryland was added to the mill pond gardens . Last map marked on a 2016 guide . |
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| Observatory Platform | 1960s | unknown | A tall metal circular observatory tower .
Located near smuggler land . Removed after landslips . Now relocated and can be seen and used at former sister park Robin Hill . This may have been a repurposed coastguard lookout platform from the adjacent coastguard cottages near the car park at Blackgang . |
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| Observatory Platform | unknown | 1980s | A white painted metal rectangular observatory located on top of one of the entrance buildings as seen in an old film .
Marked on park maps as south of the water gardens. appears on maps and guidebooks until early 1980s. Removed due to coastal erosion . |
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Accidents
[edit]- In summer 2022, Shipwrecked's hydraulic arm collapsed while the ride was in operation. The park was closed for the rest of the day and the ride was closed during investigations.
Latest developments
[edit] | This section appears to be slanted towards recent events. (October 2018) |
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2023) |
In 2010, a new section to the park opened; "Blackgang's Disappearing Village". This was produced in conjunction with the BBC programme Coast, and featured presenter Dick Strawbridge in its video exhibits. It told the story of the island's coast and illustrated the cliff falls and erosion that Blackgang suffered over the years. Approximately half of this exhibition was later removed and converted to the new Hall of Mirrors in 2016. The remaining portion includes the park's original 19-metre-long skeleton of a fin whale, and a simulator designed to mimic the experience of the landslips which occurred at Blackgang.
In 2011, a 'Fairy Land' section was developed adjacent to the Fairy Castle. The following year, the pirate ship play area was redesigned as 'Pirate Cove', with two new pirate ships, and surrounded by other smaller themed buildings, a pirate shooting gallery, and 'The Sailors Return' (now 'The Vortex'), in which visitors walk through a spinning tunnel of lights designed to disorientate.
'Restricted Area 5' opened in 2014; a modernisation of the park's previous 'Dinosaurland'. It features new animatronic dinosaurs which move and roar when visitors approach. Some of the original fibreglass dinosaurs have been retained in the new walkthrough.
In 2015, Cowboy Town was remodelled, with new buildings and scenery. A family of animatronic Triceratops was also added to Restricted Area 5. This replaced the 'Mouth of Hell', a giant devilish 'mouth' that visitors could climb into.
In 2016, The Triassic Club attraction was removed, and the area was redeveloped as a new, larger space for 'The Mouth of Hell', which is now encircled by a new walkway themed with fallen angel statues and demonic sounds.
For the opening of the 2017 'Underwater Kingdom' attraction, the Fantasyland area of the park was completely redeveloped, resulting in the removal of 'The Weather Wizard', 'The Angry Dragon' and 'The Licorice Factory' attractions. The animated 'Smugglers Cave' walkthrough was also removed and a new similar structure was built in its place to form the entrance to the 'Underwater Kingdom'.
As of 2018 and after 56 years, the Water Gardens are no longer part of the park. Demolition of the area began in 2016, with the last of the three remaining ponds nearest the cliff edge being filled in during the winter of 2017.
For the park’s 2022 season, two new rides were opened; a drop ride called ‘Evolution’ and a rotating boat ride named ‘Shipwrecked’.
For the park's 2023 season and 180th anniversary a new 18 meter, 360 degree pendulum ride named "Extinction" was opened.[13]
Christmas 2023 saw Blackgang Chine open it`s doors for the first time ever on selected dates in December. A pop up Christmas shop, complete with tree, decorations and a coffee shop selling Blackgang chine and Christmas themed gifts. The park itself was not open to the public.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Blackgang Chine history". Blackgang Chine. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
- ^ E. Stevenson & F. A. Owen (1855). "Old Humphrey". Owen Gladdon's Wanderings in the Isle of Wight (via Google Books). Retrieved 5 July 2008.
- ^ a b Martin Collins and Norman Birch (2000). A Walker's Guide to the Isle of Wight. Cicerone Press. ISBN 1-85284-221-0 (Google Books, retrieved 9 July 2008)
- ^ a b May 2000 report, Isle of Wight Postcard Club. "May 2000 meeting report". Archived from the original on 23 January 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Accessed 5 July 2008. - ^ a b "Coaster Force - Blackgang Chine". Coaster Force. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ "Quirky British days out". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Rupert Grint's holiday heaven and hell". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Is this a Blackgang ghost?". Isle of Wight County Press. 8 March 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
- ^ World Heritage / Geopark Study Archived 7 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment, www.coastalwight.gov.uk (retrieved 3 July 2008).
- ^ "Blackgang Chine Theme Park - The battle against erosion". invectis.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "Attractions at Blackgang Chine". Blackgang Chine. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
- ^ "Blackgang Chine Fantasy Park". About Britain. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
- ^ "Blackgang Chine to open new 360-degree rotation ride called Extinction". 24 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
External links
[edit]
- Old pictures of Blackgang Chine
- Blackgang Chine In Old Film https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPHssr-slPmKQaWE6X0UC7eWz38RTD5BM
- Official Website https://blackgangchine.com/
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blackgangchine/
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BlackgangChine/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/BlackgangChine