Hello, I am Terry Bracher, Archives and Local Studies Manager here at the History Centre.  Browsing through part of photographic collection I came across a photo of elephants bathing in the River Avon in Chippenham town centre in 1906. The elephants were part of a travelling circus and the Avon at Chippenham clearly provided a welcome break for the elephants as they walked to the venue for their next performance. Now I have always had an interest in historical curiosities and this led me to ask colleagues if they had come across any other curious animal related tales throughout Wiltshire, with the aim of creating our top ten animal tales, so long as they followed a simple rule - the animals could not be farm animals (unless they did something especially curious) and they had to have been see alive and well at some point in Wiltshire’s history.

The Elephants in Chippenham, 1906

But let’s start with animals that do not count. I would have liked to include the dancing bears of Lacock. They were a familiar site in the nineteenth century, being led into the village along with musicians and other entertainers. Looking through the book “Chippenham and Lacock in Old Photographs” I was astonished to see a picture of a dancing bear in the late 1930’s. Sadly, on closer inspection this was a photo of the 1938 pageant with a Mr Bob Vines in convincing pose playing the part of the bear, together with his “handler” his brother Eric Vines. This could be a whole new category in itself. 'Read more' to find out about some dramatic events involving animals in Wiltshire....

Sadly I am also leaving out of this list the numerous white horses carved into the chalk downs, even though they are an animal that is most often associated with Wiltshire. So too must go any ghostly apparitions, namely over 40 black dogs that appear in Wiltshire folk-lore. Plus any statues of animals (unless you know any commemorating an animal for a specific and curious reason) - apologies to colleagues who suggested, for example, the wonderful statue of a dog in the Harold Peto garden at Iford Manor.

Dogs that might make it on to our list, however, are the Truffle Hounds of Winterslow, which sound like a Conan-Doyle mystery, but are actually trained Spanish poodles. The last professional truffle hunter to work in Wiltshire was Alfred Collins. He worked in the Winterslow area of Wiltshire and hunted for truffles, mainly the Summer Truffle, using two Spanish poodles. The dogs could smell the truffles from 20 yards away. The poodles could find up to 25lbs of truffles a day. Alfred Collins father, or rather one of his poodles (credit where it is due), apparently found a 2lbs truffle which he sent to Queen Victoria.  Very good so far, but not in the league of a tiger!

Wiltshire’s animal related history seems to be closely tied with large cats. In Malmesbury Abbey churchyard stands a tombstone. The inscription reads:

“In memory of Hannah Twynnoy, Who died October 23rd 1703, Aged 33 years, In bloom of life, She’s snatched from hence, She had not room to make defence; For Tyger fierce, took  life away, And here she lies, In a bed of clay
Until the Resurrection Day.”

Hannah's Tombestone in Malmesbury Abbey Churchyard
 

More recently it was discovered that there had also been a memorial to her had been in Hullavington church, where perhaps Hannah was born. She was possibly a servant at White Lion Inn in Malmesbury, where there was a travelling menagerie, including a tiger which she liked teasing. Despite warnings from its keeper, she went too far and one day the tiger caught hold of her gown and tore her to pieces. The good folk of Malmesbury still keep her memory alive, which include a production of “Hannah and the tiger”, by the Malmesbury Singers in 2006.

Clearly Wiltshire folk should be wary of travelling menageries. Unfortunately this was advice was not heeded by the driver and passengers of the London to Exeter mail coach, "Quicksilver" in  October 1816 as it  was approaching the Winterslow Hut when what appeared to be a large calf was seen running alongside the horses. This "calf" happened to be a lioness who had escaped from a travelling menagerie en route to Salisbury Fair. The lioness, which was most certainly not interested in truffles, started to attack one of the lead horses. When the mailcoach guard reached for his blunderbuss to shoot the animal, the menagerie owner set his dog on the lioness instead. The menagerie men finally calmed the lioness safely recaged her. The enterprising menagerie owner bought the injured horse, named Pomegranate (who enters our list under lion bites horse stories), to be displayed with her wounds alongside the lioness in the menagerie. Thanks to my colleague Mike and his Community History website for this one.

Quite by chance, as I write my colleague Beth in the Conservation Team is working on a travelling menagerie. Don’t panic, these are delicate wooden Victorian models, including a caged showcase, which are being conserved for a museum in the South East of England.

The most famous lions in Wiltshire, of course, belong to Longleat. In 1966 Jimmy Chipperfield, related to the great circus family, persuaded the Marquis of Bath to create the first safari park of its kind in Europe, introducing 50 lions, including ten Hollywood film stars. Yes, that’s right, ten of the lions had appeared in the film Born Free and therefore enter our list under two headings, i.e. pioneering animals and celebrity animals. The Longleat Safari Park opened in October 1966, despite some initial local concern. This surely would have been more vocal had people been aware of the plight of the Winterslow coach party and the fate of Hannah Twynnoy! Other animals followed and there our tales of notable breakouts, including the escaped Hippo, who presumably did not require rope and tunnelling equipment, and a Sea Lion that ended up in the town park in Trowbridge.

More common escapees are our two legged friends. Non-native birds have often been introduced to Wiltshire, and taken flight, including Muscovy Ducks, Indian Peafowl and a Laughing Kookaburra. But the prize for the most curious headline goes to the Lanner Falcon in 1952 at High Post Golf Club, Durnford, reported as “trained Falcon killed by a golfer.” I would love to know the details of that one. It gives a whole new meaning to a birdie when playing golf.

If we are talking birds, then number one in our list of great animal stories must go to the re-introduction of the Great Bustard. Let’s just hope there are no travelling menageries on Salisbury plain!

Do you have any interesting Wiltshire animal stories? Have you come across details of the elephants at Chippenham? We would love to know, so we can build up our definitive animal blog list.

If you have enjoyed this article, the following entry may also be of interest:

Tiddly Pom... More Amazing Wiltshire Animal Tales