27th April 1828, opening of the world’s oldest scientific zoo, the Zoological Gardens at Regent's Park in London, which would later be known as London Zoo. The collection and exhibition of animals in Britain however far predated its opening. The collection of animals at the Zoological Gardens were formed from two other collections, one from the Tower of London menagerie, which had existed since the reign of King John in the 12th century; and the other, the Exeter Exchange Menagerie on the Strand in London, which opened in 1773. Both previous menageries were open to the public and were hugely popular. It is known that both Lord Byron, and William Wordsworth visited the Strand menagerie. Animals from the collection upon their death were stuffed and displayed in William Bullock’s London Museum, also called the Egyptian Hall, the first building in England to be influenced by the Egyptomania style. The admission to the Tower of London menagerie was free if the visitor brought along a dog or a cat to be fed to the Lion’s. Artwork shown and influenced by popular entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries can be found for sale at www.ofgraveconcern.com/entertainmentandcuriosity Follow @ofgrave.concern for more strange, macabre and gothic tales from history! #zookeeperlife #zooanimals #zooanimalsofinstagram #zoohistory #londonzoo #toweroflondon #toweroflondon🇬🇧 #regentsparklondon #strandlondon #lordbyron #williamwordsworth #menagerie #19thcentury #egyptomania #regencygothic #gothictales #feedingtimeatthezoo #zoolife #zoological #zoologist #zoologicalgarden #zoologicalillustration #zoologicalmuseum #victoriangothic #victoriangothicstyle #londonhistory #historyoflondon #royalmenagerie #historical #historystories https://www.instagram.com/p/COS-M1eHpsX/?igshid=f5unmfcmuy40