During its almost 30 years of operation the Camelot theme park had the slogan, “The land of great knights, and amazing days.” Visitors could ride a selection of flat rides and rollercoasters, play games and buy snacks at battlemented stalls, or watch knights both great and not-so-great battle it out in the jousting arena.

Very little now remains of the park. The 140-acre plot is surrounded by rusting Heras fencing. The rides have been disassembled and removed. Security officers patrol the grounds on a regular basis, politely but firmly turfing out any visitors.

The scenery and theming which made Camelot has been broken up and sold, or else left in place to be destroyed by a combination of weather, vandalism, and arson. Nature has retaken lost ground, entwining the once-gleaming walls of the entrance plaza with weeds and vines.

For the time being, Camelot remains, clinging stubbornly to its spot in defiance of both nature and numerous developers. Sooner or later, the park will disappear. The land of great knights will exist only in the memories of the many who visited it.

Here are some of those memories.

Sooty and Sweep

In 1994, the park featured in an episode of puppet-based children’s TV series Sooty & Co. In the episode, presenter Matthew Corbett took a small group of puppets to the park, only to discover that it was closed.

The group then encountered another character, who revealed that they worked part-time as a caretaker at the park, and opened the gates so that Sooty and his friends could have the park to themselves for the day.

Jousting Competitions

The park was home to an extremely popular jousting show, which ran daily in a purpose-built arena. It featured several knights facing off on horseback and hand-to-hand combat – often with a few dramatic twists to make the combat more exciting.

In between each bout, two jesters would entertain the crowd with a series of skits. Comedian Steve Royle worked as a jester for 13 years, and has many fond memories of the park. In an interview for the BBC he speaks about how entertaining thousands of guests each day helped make him into a professional performer. He also recalls juggling with horse manure to get a laugh from the crowd.

Puff the Dragon

A large red dragon named Puff was situated at the entrance to the park, where he would greet guests as they arrived. As well as reassuring visitors that he was “the most gentle-hearted and polite of all the dragons”, he welcomed them to “the magic kingdom of Camelot,” where they would find, “the most gallant and kindly king ever to have reigned.”

The Dragon Flyer

The Dragon Flyer was, uniquely, a rollercoaster powered by an engine. While most rides of this type rely on chain lifts and gravity to provide thrills for guests, the Dragon Flyer ran on diesel, the scent of which was prominent for the duration of the ride. It was one of only two rides of this type to exist in the world.

Souvenirs

A wide range of souvenirs were available. As well as keyrings, pens, pressed pennies, and fridge magnets, visitors could also pick up plastic swords, shields, and helmets. There were also stuffed dragons, badges, thimbles, branded stationary, and all manner of other tat.

The Sword in the Stone

The sword in the stone was situated just inside the entrance to the park. Many guests tried their hand at removing the mythical weapon, but none succeeded. According to legend the sword (better known as Excalibur) could only be removed by the true king of England.

Nonetheless, it made for a great photo opportunity.