ABSTRACT
Battersea and Alton Towers can be considered as important and linked axis points in an understanding of British amusement spaces. This chapter focuses on the rich debate in establishing models and approaches towards the understanding of amusement spaces throughout the twentieth century. Firstly, the question as to what constitutes the first British theme park and why – if indeed Britain ever had a theme park – will be considered through the two axis points of Battersea Amusement Park and the 1980s re-branding of Alton Towers. Secondly, the development of a new model is put forward to consider the theme park and to look at current spaces of amusement that have taken the success of Alton Towers as their blueprint. Battersea Festival Gardens and the amusement park grew almost as an adjunct to the main Festival – classed in some quarters as a poor relation.
