FORUM

John Wardley wrote: In 1931 a gentleman called Alfred Cartlidge developed a 70 acre site comprising a lake and surrounding woodland near the town of Wokingham in Berkshire, and created an amusement park which he called "California in England”. This consisted of a ballroom, cafeteria, boating lake, Snake Train (the fore-runner of Drayton Manor’s), picnic pavilions, and an amusement arcade. The arcade was equipped almost exclusively with Bryan’s machines, and Mr. Cartlidge developed a good working relationship with the company. William’s son George used to frequently visit the park to sell and deliver the latest machines, and on one occasion met and fell in love with Mr. Cartlidge’s daughter Vera.
George and Vera married, and decided to set up their own amusement park nearer to the Bryan’s family base in the Midlands. Drayton Manor was born, and was modelled substantially on California in England.
As I child in the 1950s I was taken to California in England on Sunday School outings, family picnics etc. and remember the wonderful arcade packed with Bryan’s machines. Through the 1960s the park fell into decline, and eventually became derelict. But the amusement arcade and its machines were mothballed. In 1970 I was given the opportunity to purchase the entire contents of the arcade, but, being a poorly-paid stage manager could only afford to buy one machine. Unfortunately the receiver took an all-or-nothing attitude to liquidating the arcade, and I left with nothing. Who bought the arcade I do not know.

woody2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:10 am The family still own the land, it's only the operating company that has changed hands.

coppinpr wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:48 am what you say BP may (or may not) be true but is it not good news that the family is still in charge of the day to day running rather than a totally new broom sweeping all before it? If the business is not viable in 2 years time then perhaps it IS time for the old school to leave, but,for now, long may the Bryans family rule