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Derbyshire Town's Wild Past Remembered in New Mural
16 Sep
Summary
- A new mural honors Ripley's former zoo, which housed exotic animals.
- The zoo operated for seven years but closed due to WWI supply issues.
- Local primary school pupils helped design the artwork using collage.
A new mural now adorns Ripley Town Hall, commemorating a unique chapter in the town's history when it hosted a variety of exotic animals. For seven years, entrepreneur John Marshall operated a zoo featuring monkeys, lemurs, and even a bear cub named Little Roosevelt.
The zoo's operation concluded with the onset of World War I. The global conflict made it impossible to secure necessary food supplies for the animals, leading to the facility's closure. This marked the end of Ripley's time as a home for such diverse wildlife.
Local artist Amy Vallance, alongside fellow artist Grace Calloway, brought this history to life. They collaborated with Arts Award Bronze pupils from St John's Primary School, employing collage techniques in the style of Henri Matisse. The children's creative input inspired the final design, which Vallance described as celebrating a lesser-known part of Ripley's past.
