Fresh photographs of the abandoned Blobbyland site in Somerset have emerged, showing the once-popular theme park now completely reclaimed by nature and ravaged by vandals. The park, located at Cricket St Thomas Wildlife Park, operated for only two years after opening in 1994, capitalising on the massive popularity of Mr Blobby and Noel Edmonds on British television.
Blobbyland's Short-Lived Existence
Promoted as Britain's inaugural TV leisure park, Blobbyland—also known as Crinkley Bottom—featured attractions such as "Animals of Farthing Wood" and "Fun Village." According to the unofficial fan site Dunblobbin.com, "From its whimsical exterior through to its loopy 'Gunge Factory', nothing was going to seem normal in Blobbyland." The site included a restaurant called Crinkley Bottom Haute Cuisine Emporium and the Liszt and Newt pub, where Mr Blobby would appear on a balcony to greet visitors.
The Mr Blobby House
One of the park's main draws was the Mr Blobby House, a bungalow constructed from chicken wire and polystyrene. It featured a small yellow bridge leading to the entrance, plastic flowers, a giant pink mushroom, and a giant pink and yellow toilet inside. The doorbell played "BLOBBY, BLOBBY, BLOBBY" for visitors. The house was a centrepiece for family photos and interactions with the Blobby family.
Abandonment and Vandalism
After the park closed in 1996, the site fell into disrepair. The abandoned photographs reveal that the elements have taken a toll, with the structures wrecked by ravers and vandals over the years. The location was accessible via a tunnel from the Cricket St Thomas Leisure Club, hidden by thick woodland. Dunblobbin.com reported that staff tried to block the tunnel with machinery and a wooden fence, but people continued to explore. In mid-2014, the house was demolished and the tunnel was sealed with breezeblocks to prevent further intruders.
Legacy of Mr Blobby
The giant toilet from the house was reportedly taken to an art gallery for a time, but the whereabouts of other items remain unknown. Dunblobbin.com described it as "a sorry end to such an iconic and bizarre feat of British popular culture." Mr Blobby continues to make sporadic appearances on BBC TV programmes, often surprising audiences.
