Joyland Books

Dear all,
I'm looking for some good books that tell the stories behind a small British theme parks - their rise and fall, and the personal dramas surrounding them. I don't really mind which theme park in particular - just ones that captured the imagination and had some great tales to tell. Any ideas?

victor77 wrote:Dear all,
I'm looking for some good books that tell the stories behind a small British theme parks - their rise and fall, and the personal dramas surrounding them. I don't really mind which theme park in particular - just ones that captured the imagination and had some great tales to tell. Any ideas?

I am not sure whether you include seaside amusement parks in your description of "theme parks". If so, and you are looking for the drama of the rise and fall of the parks, then I would recommend three books:

Kursaal Memories (the history of Southend's Kursaal Amusement Park):
http://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/k ... mories.htm

Pleasureland Memories (the history of Southport Pleasureland):
http://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/p ... mories.htm

Dreamland Remembered (the history of Dreamland, Margate):
http://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/d ... mbered.htm

I hope that helps.

Nick