Today we feature some more brilliant footage from British Pathé. Before any ride is opened to the public, it’s put through its paces to ensure that it’s ready to operate reliably and safely for the paying public.
Here we see preparations for the opening of the Battersea Big Dipper, that had previously operated at Sutton Great Park and Southport Pleasureland.
The iconic ride was opened as part of the amusements at the Festival of Britain in London’s Battersea Park. When the festival closed, the ride would continue to operate as part of Battersea funfair, until a fatal accident in 1972.