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The area known as Heysham Head was purchased by Septimus Wray in 1923 and opened to the public as an amusement park in 1926. Septimus Wray was from Ilkley (Yorkshire) and he acquired a number of properties throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire. After his death in 1936, Heysham Head was managed by his son, Fred Wray.
The amusement park was very popular and featured a zoo, a bear, a rose garden, swings, rides, an aviary, monkey house, marionette shows, an open air theatre with concert parties and children’s talent competitions, and a small cafe.
There were many different marionette shows performed over the years, including acts from Joe Randel Hodson (the De Randel Marionettes) with the puppet ‘Yorkshire Bob’, Jan and Vlasta Dalibor who last appeared at Heysham Head in 1956 before finding television fame with ‘Pinky & Perky’, Wolohan’s Marionettes in 1961 and the John Dudley Marionettes from 1962.
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