TO THE MANOR BORN!
Drayton Manor is the UK’s largest, family owned, theme park, attracting more than one million visitors every year to ride
Pandemonium, G-Force, Shockwave and many more. Spread over 300 acres, the park caters for 20,000 visitors at any one time and, as
M
well as over 100 rides, also has a zoo, extensive lakes,
woodland and formal gardens
ore than a million visitors pass through the gates of Drayton Manor Theme Park each year -
a figure which would have been far beyond the wildest dreams of the founder, George Bryan Snr, when he bought eighty acres of land in Staffordshire in 1949. The land was part of the former Drayton Manor estate of Sir Robert Peel - former Prime Minister and, whilst Home Secretary, the creator of the modern police force. George, and his wife Vera, got the
idea from their experiences of working at The California in England resort that was operating in Berkshire before the war.
The site was officially opened in April 1950 as Drayton Manor Inland Pleasure Resort. At that time, it was just a park with a small funfair and tearooms. Entrance fee was 6d (2.5p) for adults and half price for children. The rides cost 6d to go on.
In 1954 George built a self-service cafeteria, followed by the Tower party tearooms, which was soon serving 2,500 teas at weekends. By the late 1950s George had invested in thirteen new rides, one of which, Carousel, is still going strong today. It was a huge investment. For example, the Chairlift, the park’s first ‘big ride’ cost a staggering £27,000, a vast amount of money in those days. A zoo was introduced in 1957, and this now covers fifteen acres of the park. Over the years, additional areas of land have been acquired to accommodate more rides, picnic areas, nature trails and car parking facilities.
Drayton Manor is now spread over 300 acres, has 100 rides and employs 100 full-time staff. In addition, around 400 ‘part timers’ are employed during the summer season between March and October. The park is geared to cater for up to 20,000 people at any one time.
Nigel Stubbs (left) with George Bryan
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