This wonderful but slightly eccentric building, possibly the ultimate curiosity in garden shed design, used to be in Upper Wood near the Sports Field^[1]. Thirsty walkers or cavern visitors were served tea and refreshments at the Zoo Tea Gardens, probably by Mrs. Mary Widdowson. It is known that she ran a tea room in Upper Wood at the beginning of the twentieth century^[2]. The tea room would have been associated with, but not connected to, the Heights of Jacob Fluor Spar Cavern some 200 metres down the hillside. Jacob Raynes, the cavern's proprietor, was the Widdowson's' neighbour. It would also served the Speedwell Cavern and the Cricket Ground.

The wooden building is decorated with interpretations of wild birds and animals. On the side adjacent to the stool, for instance, is a man on a horse who is smoking a pipe and the horse is being chased by a reindeer. There is a crown just below the apex of the roof and snakes, more animals and another pipe smoker are on either side of the fretwork window^[3]. Similar designs surround the doorway and the other two windows. To the side is a rustic awning which is decorated in similar style with a reindeer head and antlers; it is rather small for the real thing but could be, otherwise it is purely decorative and probably carved from wood.

It is likely that the rustic garden seating provided for the customers was made from the many trees and saplings in the vicinity, possibly by William Widdowson who was a jobbing gardener in 1901 and would have had the skills to make it^[2]. Willow, birch, or alder saplings are all suitable for this type of furniture^[4].

It is even possible that the windmill on the top served as a wind generator.

References (coloured links are to transcripts and information elsewhere on this web site):

^[1] Conversation between Ken Smith and Mrs. Lorna Aspey
^[2] Mrs. Widdowson and her husband in the 1891 census and the 1901 census
^[3] It is difficult to tell whether this is fretwork. It could equally be strips of wood stuck on the glass or may even be lead. A few panes are coloured
^[4] There is an interesting web site, Build-Rustic-Furniture.com, which shows you how to make similar furniture