Arkive – In The Mail – Noah’s Ark by Night (1938)

This beautiful postcard was sent in 1938 and shows a night scene of the park’s northern area. Noah’s Ark sits proudly in the foreground with the (from left) Grand National, Fun House, Jack & Jill Slide and Flying Machine in the background.

Although the park was known for its light displays at the time, particularly during the Illumination period, it is not known if there is any artistic licence in the depiction. Even the Grand National at the rear of the site is fully lit.

Of particular note is the bi-plane car on the Flying Machine (you can see the outline in front of the central column) – these cars replaced the original ‘propeller-driven submarines’ in 1929.

The Illuminations of 1938 were the last until 1949 due to World War II.