Sign of the times as Dudley Zoo relics unearthed
They had been hidden for decades but now reminders of Dudley Zoo from years gone by have been unearthed during restoration work.
Workers removing paint on one of the old sweet kiosks on the site found an advert for Black Country sweet company Teddy Gray's rock dating back to 1937, when the zoo first opened to the public.
While over at the Bear Ravine's pit wall workmen came across an enamel plaque circa 1950.
Both of the buildings are 1930s Tectons, which date back to when the zoo first opened, and are being restored with the help of Heritage Lottery cash.
Dudley Zoo has the world's single largest collection of Tecton buildings – 12 listed structures around the site intended for animal and visitor use – and a display celebrating their importance within the modernist movement has been opened.
The zoo's head of media and communications, Jill Hitchman said: "We were excited to see the confectionery advert, particularly as we still have supplies of rock from the same manufacturer, Dudley-based Teddy Gray, who sold ice-creams and sweets from the site's two kiosks from the day the zoo opened in May 1937 until the 1980s when a change in health and safety regulations prompted their closure.
"The zoo plaque will be put into our new Tecton Interpretation Centre, which is sited within the newly-restored safari shop, and tells the story of Berthold Lubetkin's inspired architecture."
She added that the advertisement on the sweet kiosk would now be recreated as part of its restoration with the original colours.
"Discussions are still taking place as to the final use for the Bear Ravine –thought by many Lubetkin aficionados to be the most impressive Tecton within the collection – and it is hoped to keep an animal species on the lower level which incorporates the original bear pit, while allowing public access to the upper level, including the balcony."
Workers restoring the Bear Ravine have erected £15,000-worth of scaffolding around the amphitheatre-shaped concrete building as they carry out repairs and match colours to the original paintwork.
Work on the ravine, which also includes £48,000 spent on cleaning the structure, is approximately six months ahead of schedule.
