The Tiger Who Came to Tea … In the Heart of Rural Yorkshire

The World Wildlife Fund reports that the number of tigers in captivity exceeds those in the wild. This is particularly evident in the United States, where backyard zoos and cub petting ventures thrive as profitable yet contentious enterprises. While big cat ownership faces stricter regulations in the UK compared to the U.S., this wasn't always the norm. Over seven decades ago, England was home to at least one pet tiger.

For many in Britain, Holmfirth, located 20 miles from Manchester, is renowned as the scenic backdrop for Last of the Summer Wine, the BBC series that enjoyed an impressive 37-year run from 1973 to 2010 and holds the title of the world's longest-running sitcom. However, in the early 1940s, the village was locally famous for being the residence of Fenella, the Holmfirth Tiger.

Fenella’s tale traces back over 8000 miles to South Africa, where she was adopted by the Overends, a Yorkshire-based family of circus performers and acrobats, in the late 1930s. During their 1939 tour of South Africa with a traveling circus, the Overends were given two newborn tiger cubs to raise and eventually include in their performances. Sadly, one cub passed away within a week, but the other, named Fenella (or “Feney”), thrived.

With the onset of the Second World War, the Overends had to return to England, bringing Fenella with them after a short quarantine. She settled into the backyard of their Holmfirth home, where a custom hut and enclosure were built for her. Over time, Fenella spent as much time indoors with the family as she did outside, growing remarkably tame, according to her owners.

The family often took her on walks through the village, even passing the local primary school, where she became a beloved figure among the students. When the local council questioned Fenella’s tameness, seeing her stroll peacefully while being petted by schoolchildren during their lunch break was enough to ease their concerns.

Fenella was occasionally allowed to roam the fields near the village, where she allegedly befriended a local cart horse—a surprising feat considering her diet consisted of horse meat and fish (with fish and chips being a particular favorite). She also enjoyed climbing trees for naps and had a tendency to leap down from the branches, startling unsuspecting passersby. Over time, the sight of a 9-foot Sumatran tigress strolling leisurely through Holmfirth’s cobblestone streets became a common occurrence for the villagers.

Fenella was meant to be a performing tiger. Like modern-day cub petting experiences in the U.S., visitors could pay sixpence to sit and pet her during the family’s tours. She also played a role in the family’s circus acts, engaging in staged wrestling matches with her owner. Despite her role in their performances, the Overends regarded her as a cherished family pet rather than merely a part of their show.

Tragically, Fenella passed away from a kidney infection in 1950 during one of the family’s tours, at just over 10 years old. She was laid to rest in a neighbor’s garden, a place she often frequented for hunting. Fenella’s memory lives on in Holmfirth, and in 2016, she was honored at the Holmfirth Arts Festival, where an exhibition showcased photographs and archival footage of her life with the Overend family. While exotic pets may no longer be as popular in the UK, Fenella’s legacy endures.