Camelot Theme Park: This destination for thrills and spills is now gone, but never forgotten

We continue our Chorley 150 series with a look back at the theme park which enjoyed a golden era

How many Chorley youngsters enjoyed the thrills and spills on offer at Camelot theme park in the 80 and 90s?

placeholder image — The Camelot theme park in its heyday

As we look back at the places, people and events that have made their contribution to the borough in the 150 years of the Chorley Guardian, it's worth remembering some that have now been and gone.

The park's iconic roller coaster visible from the M6 at Charnock Richard was a familiar sight.

This is what Camelot Theme Park looks like now - 2 months after demolition began

The theme park, based on the story of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, opened to huge fanfare in 1983.

It enjoyed a fabulous golden era as visitors flocked to rides like Dragon Flyer, Tower of Terror and Knightmare.

Knights 'battled' each other on horseback and in hand-to-hand combat in popular jousting shows.

The end of an era ... Camelot lay abandoned for many years

Jesters, which included Chorley's own comedian Steve Royle, who became a Britain's Got Talent finalist, entertained the crowds.

Some half a million visitors a year enjoyed the park in the mid-1990s as more rides were introduced.

Camelot has been closed for a little over 10 years and the site was demolished last year in line for potential development.

But few of us from Chorley and beyond (if they're from the right generation) can travel that bit of the M6 through Charnock Richard without remembering fun days out in what was a great Lancashire attraction.

Chorley 150 countdown

The Chorley Guardian is featuring 150 stories about Chorley: Inspirational people, places that we love, or special moments in the life of the borough.

It's a countdown to our 150th anniversary on November 4 and we’re celebrating the community we’re proud to be a part of.

Send in your suggestions for our stories in the next few months and let's celebrate 150 years together.