This volume establishes the historical foundations of the modern circus, tracing its development from pre-Astley entertainments to nineteenth-century British performance culture. Drawing extensively on rare archival materials, it situates circus within a wider entertainment ecology that includes pantomime, music hall, and theatre. The collection reveals intersections between innovation, engineering, and spectacle, highlighting animal training, aerial performance, and creative experimentation as key sites of development. Attention to provincial activity, particularly in Bristol, enriches understanding of regional practice. Scholarly commentary and primary sources together illuminate the social, cultural, and technological forces that shaped circus as a dynamic popular form.
This volume establishes the historical foundations of the modern circus, tracing its development from pre-Astley entertainments to nineteenth-century British performance culture.
Volume I: Circus in Great Britain in the Long Nineteenth Century
Acknowledgments
General Introduction
Volume I Introduction
Part
1. A Century of Circus in Bristol
1. Park Row Circus Plans(1886), Illustration, Bristol Archives, Building
Plans and Indices of the City Planning Officer, 22/8c.#
2. Astleys Wonderful Troop, Bristol Gazette & Public Advertiser, 10
September
1789.
3. Report of Amphitheatre construction, Bristol Mercury, 1 March
1790.
4. Handy & Franklins Troop, Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette, 15 December
1791.
5. Mr Taylors benefit at Handys Circus, Bristol Gazette and Public
Advertiser, 26 April
1792.
6. Last week of the Catauba Indians, Bonner & Middletons Bristol Journal,
13 February
1796.
7. Poney Races, Bonner & Middletons Bristol Journal, 24 February
1796.
8. New Circus Intelligence, Bristol Gazette & Public Advertiser, March 3
1796.
9. Catauba Indians and the Poney Races, Bonner & Middletons Bristol
Journal, 5 March
1796.
10. Olympic Circus,Bristol Gazette and Public Advertiser, 15 June
1799.
11. Charles Dibdin the Younger, Olympic Circus poem, Bristol Gazette &
Public Advertiser, 11 July
1799.
12. Charles Dibdin the Younger, IV: Parker and Davis. 1799, The Memoirs of
Charles Dibdin the Younger. ed, G. Speaight (London: Society for Theatre
Research, 1956 [ 1830]), 34-38.
13. Shows, Exhibitions, Machinery etc, list of St Jamess Fair stalls &
fees, Bristol Archives, Fair accounts, giving details of stall, rent
collected, name of holder (some copies from account book 1807 - 1839),
1721-1830, Records of the Anglican Parish of St James', St James' Fair, P
St-J F10,
1811.
14. During the Fair, Bristol Mercury, 4 September
1820.
15. St Jamess Fair Circus & Menagerie advertisements, Bristol Mercury, 1
September 1821
16. Wombwells Immense Royal Menagerie, Bristol Gazette, 31 July
1823.
17. Wombwells Menagerie, Bristol Mercury, 4 August
1823.
18. Merchant Taylors Menagerie, Bristol Gazette, 25 September
1823.
19. Ducrows Amphitheatre, Bristol Mirror, 5 November
1825.
20. Ryans New Grand Equestrian Arena, Bristol Gazette, 23 August
1827.
21. Ryans Circus and Spacious Arena, Bristol Mercury, 25 August
1829.
22. Ryans Equestrian Circus, Bristol Mercury, 7 September 1833
23. Ryans Royal Amphitheatre, Bristol Mercury, 20 June
1839.
24. Ryans Amphitheatre, Bristol Mercury, 16 November
1839.
25. POLICE INTELLIGENCE, WEDNESDAY, Bristol Mercury, 22 August
1840.
26. RYANS CIRCUS, Bristol Mercury, 12 September
1840.
27. Provincial Intelligence, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, Bristol Mercury, 24 October
1840.
28. Ryans Circus, North-Street, Bristol Mercury, 14 November
1840.
29. Sales by Auction, Bristol Mercury, 25 December
1841.
30. Price & Powells New Circus Royal, & Ducrows National Olympic Arena
of Arts, Bristol Mercury, 16 April
1842.
31. Ducrows Arena & The Circus Royal, Bristol Mercury, 16 April
1842.
32. To Carpenters, Builders, &c., Bristol Mercury, 11 June
1842.
33. Battys Circus Royal, Bristol Mercury, 23 July
1842.
34. Battys Circus, Bristol Mercury, 23 July 1842
35. Great Novelty! Bristol Mercury, 6 August
1842.
36. Clifton and Bristol Polytechnic, [ Ryans Circus] Bristol Mercury, 3
December 1842
37. Cornwalls Temple of Wonder, Bristol Mercury, 24 December
1842.
38. Hughess Circus Royal, Bristol Times & Mirror, 14 December
1844.
39. Report of accident to Mr Ryan, Bristol Times & Mirror, 31 October
1846.
40. William Cookes Royal Circus, Bristol Times & Mirror, 25 December
1847.
41. A Treat for the Million, Bristol Times & Mirror, 18 May
1850.
42. Allied Circus, Bristol Mercury, 27 December
1856.
43. Pablo Fanques Circus, Bristol Mercury, 27 December
1856.
44. Pablo Fanques Circus, Bristol Mercury, 3 January
1857.
45. Important Decision, Bristol Mercury, 13 March
1858.
46. Zoological Gardens, Bristol Daily Post, 5 August
1861.
47. Ginnetts Circus in Bristol, Western Daily Press, 20 February
1877.
48. Excerpt from An Old Mans Recollections Of St Jamess Pleasure Fair,
Bristol Mercury, 25 December
1880.
49. Licensing Application for Messrs Sangers Circus, Western Daily Press,
11 November
1886.
50. Messrs. Sangers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 12 November
1886.
51. Opening of Messrs Sangers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 16 November
1886.
52. Attendance of Magistrate, Bristol Mercury, 10 December
1886.
53. Excerpt from Christmas Amusements, Western Daily Press, 24 December
1886.
54. Henglers Grand Cirque, Western Daily Press, 7 September
1888.
55. Henglers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 11 September
1888.
56. Buffalo Bill in Bristol, Western Daily Press, 29 September
1891.
57.Buffalo Bill in Bristol, Bristol Mercury, 29 September
1891.
58. Harry Bow [ William Henry Bow], Extracts on Buffalo Bills Wild West Show,
1891, Bristol Archives, Diaries of W. Harry Bow, 31416/1
59. Henglers Circus: The Water Novelty, Western Daily Press, 11 October
1892.
60. Cinderella At Henglers Circus, Western Daily Press, 29 August
1893.
61. Action by a Circus Rider, Bristol Mercury, 30 June
1893.
62. Professor Crockers Horses at the Drill Hall, Western Daily Press, 20
November
1894.
63. Harry Bow [ William Henry Bow], diary extracts on circus acts at the Zoo &
Sangers Circus, 1894, Bristol Archives, Diaries of W. Harry Bow, 31416/8.
64. Lord George Sangers Circus, Bristol Mercury, 21 June
1894.
65. Boswells Pavilion Circus, Bristol Mercury, 2 September
1895.
66. Lord John Sanger & Sons Circus, Bristol Magpie, 2 December
1897.
67. Barnum & Bailey Big Show, Bristol Mercury, 15 August
1898.
68. Earths Greatest Show, Bristol Mercury, 16 August
1898.
69. Barnum and Baileys Show, Bristol Mercury, 22 April
1899.
70. The Italian Circus at the Palace, Bristol Times & Mirror, 2 July
1901.
71. The Royal Italian Circus, Western Daily Press, 18 April
1911.
72. Bristol Exhibition, Western Daily Press, 11 June
1914.
Part
2. The Long Eighteenth Century
2.1 The Late-eighteenth Century Circus
73. William Garbott, The New River, a Poem, (London, c.1728), 18, 21-22,
25-26.
74. Letter from Patty Astley to Mr and Mrs Pownall, Astley Theatre Cuttings,
British Library, Vol. 1 (TH.cts/35, item 1171).
75. George Speaight (ed), Memoirs of Charles Dibdin the Younger (London: The
Society for Theatre Research, 1956 [ 1830]), 17-21.
76. Charles Dibdin, The Elder, Royal Circus Epitomized (London, 1784),
21-24.
77. Thomas Read, The History of the Royal Circus Introductory to the Case of
Mr. Read, Late Stage Manager of that theatre in a letter to a friend (London,
1791), 6-20.
78. Jacob Decastro, The Memoirs of J. De Castro, Comedian ... Accompanied by
an Analysis of the Life of the Late Philip Astley ... Also an Accompanying
History of the Royal Circus, Now the Surrey Theatre; and an Historical Sketch
of Sadler's Wells. Likewise Scarce Theatrical Advertisements (London, 1824),
148-160.
79. James C. Dibdin, The Annals of The Edinburgh Stage with an account of the
Rise and Progress of Dramatic Writing in Scotland (Edinburgh: Richard
Cameron, 1888), 332-340.
80. Frederick W. Hawkins, The Life of Edmund Kean, 2 vols. (London, Tinsley
1869), Vol.1, 39-41.
81. An Act for the Control of Theatrical Representations 1788 Public Act, 28
George III, c. 30
2.2 Performers and Performances
82. Philip Astley, Natural Magic: or Physical Amusements Revealed (London,
1785), 25-27.
83. S. Hooper, A Guide to Health, Beauty, Riches, and Honour (London, 1785),
51-55.
84. An equestrian career: George Smith, the Little Devil, 1787-1807
(compilation of newspaper sources: Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Ariss
Birmingham Gazette, Manchester Mercury, Bristol Mercury, Newcastle Chronicle,
Caledonian Mercury, The Times, Hampshire Chronicle).
85. Rope Dancing at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, Bury and Norfolk Post, 6
December
1786.
86. Scaglionis Dancing Dogs at Swanns Amphitheatre, Livery Street,
Birmingham, Ariss Birmingham Gazette, 5 November
1787.
87. Equestrian Performances at the Botanic Garden, Leith Walk, Edinburgh,
Caledonian Mercury, 19 July
1788.
88. Frederick Wilkinsons Sagacious Dog at Bathwick Fields, Bath, (Bath
Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 29 October 1789).
89. Pugilism at the Edinburgh Equestrian Circus, Caledonian Mercury, 3
March
1792.
90. Pony races at the Edinburgh Equestrian Circus, Caledonian Mercury, 6
February
1796.
91. Fireworks at Joness Amphitheatre, Mr. Higginss Livery Stable Yard,
Oxford, Oxford Journal 7 May,
1796.
92. The Antipodean Whirligig at the Edinburgh Equestrian Circus, Caledonian
Mercury, 21 January
1799.
93. Anon. The History and Comical Adventures of Harlequin and His Pleasing
Companion Columbine (1790).
94. Nathaniel Wanley, The Wonders of the Little or Moral World: Or a General
History of Man (London, c.1790), 115-117.
95. William Frederick Pinchbeck, Witchcraft or the Art of Fortune Telling
Unveiled (Boston, 1805), 54-59.
96. Pierce Egan, Astleys Spanish Horse, in Sporting Anecdotes (London
Sherwood, Jones and Co., 1825),
458.
Part
3. The Nineteenth-century Circus
3. 1 Circus Life
97. William Clarke, Every Night book: or Life after Dark (London: T.
Richardson,1827), 22-24.
98. James Grant, The Great Metropolis Vol. 2 (London: Saunders and Otley,
1837) 77-80.
99. Henry Valentine, Behind the Curtain (London: G. F Frost, 1848?),
100-102.
100. Peter Paterson, Behind the Scenes or the Confessions of a Strolling
Player (Edinburgh: D. Mathews, 1858), 89-97.
101. William F. Wallett, The Public Life of W. F. W., the Queens Jester: An
Autobiography, J. Luntley (ed.), (London: Bemrose and Sons, 1870), 86-94.
102. Charlie Keith, Circus Life and Amusements (Derby: Bewley and Roe, 1879),
5-10, 28-30.
103. Charles W. Montague, Recollections of an Equestrian Manager (London: W
and R Chambers, 1881), 25-28.
104. Sangers and Howes and Cushings Circus, The Preston Chronicle, 18
June
1870.
105. Samuel Wild, The Original, Complete and Only Authentic Story of Old
Wild's: ... a Nursery of Strolling Players ... Being the Reminiscences of
Its Chief and Last Proprietor, Sam Wild. Edited by Trim [ i.e. W. B.
Megson]. Reprinted from the Halifax Courier (London: G. Vickers, 1888),
112-113, 189-195.
106. Whimsical Walker, [ Thomas Henry Walker] From Sawdust to Windsor Castle
(London: Stanley Paul, 1922), 8-10.
107. James Lloyd, My Circus Life, Etc. (London: Noel Douglas, 1925), 15-17,
20-23.
108. George Sanger, Seventy Years a Showman (London: J. M Dent, 1927),
181-190.
109. E. H. Bostock, Menageries, Circuses and Theatres (London: Chapman &
Hall, 1927), 129-140.
3.2 Performances Explained
110. Charles Dickens, (ed.), The Trick of the Trapeze, All the Year Round,
Vol. 8, No. 186, (Nov 15, 1862), 232-235.
111. George Forrest, The Trapèze- Single and Double, Every Boy's Magazine,
1 June, 1863, 360-370.
112. William Henry Cremer and Wiljalba Frikell, Magic No Mystery; Conjuring
Tricks with Cards, Balls and Dice ... By the Author of The Secret Out [ i.e.
W. Frikell]. Edited by W. H. Cremer. With ... Illustrations. 1876, 45-47.
113. Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, The World behind the Scenes (London:
Chatto and Windus, 1881), 55-60.
114. Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, Music Hall Land (London: Ward and Downey
1890), 49-50.
115. Chas E. Griffin, How to become a Contortionist or Bending Made Easy, by
an old professional (New York, 1896).
116. Albert A. Hopkins, Magic Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions
(London: Sampson Low, Marston and Company, 1897), 139-163.
3.3 Risky Business & Representation: Aerial Performance
117. Leotard, The Flying Man, The Era.
118.M Leotard, the Gymnast, The Field, 1 June 1861,
476.
119.Lofty Tumbling, Chamberss Journal, 13 June 1861, 28-30.
120. Musicus, To the Editor, The Musical World, 22 March 1862,
186.
121. Amusements for the People, Tomahawk, 18 July
1868.
122. Royal Amphitheatre and Circus Advertisement, The Era, 1 March
1868.
123. Royal Amphitheatre, The Standard, 11 March
1868.
124.Royal Amphitheatre, The Morning Post, 7 April
1868.
125. Advertisements, The Standard, 5 June
1868.
126. A New Lady Gymnast, The Era, 15 September 1878
127.Leona-Dare at The Oxford, The Era, 6 October 1878
128. Summary of this Mornings News, Pall Mall Gazette, 14 March
1879.
129. Birmingham - Myerss Hippodrome, The Era, 25 Jan 1880
130.Royal Aquarium, Morning Post, 12 March 1879
131. Westminster Aquarium, The Era, 16 March 1879
132.Westminster Aquarium, Morning Post, 16 October 1883
133.Amusements in Edinburgh - Mosss Varieties, The Era, 13 February 1892
134. The Empire Palace, Portsmouth Evening News, 10 October 1893
3.4 Children and the Circus
135. Ellen Barlee, Acrobats, in Pantomime Waifs; or, A Plea for our City
Children (London: S.W. Partridge & Co, 1884), 111, 113-27.
136. Ellen Barlee, Appendix: Juvenile Acrobats, in Pantomime Waifs; A Plea
for our City Children (London: S.W. Partridge & Co, 1884), 273-6.
137. Ellen Barlee, Theatres, Music-Halls, etc., in Pantomime Waifs; A Plea
for our City Children (London: S.W. Partridge & Co, 1884), 34-40.
138. Juggling, in Routledge's Book of the Circus (London: Routledge: 1892),
36-9.
139. Frances Stratton, Nan the Circus Girl (London: J.F. Shaw & Co, 1898),
11-16, 26-28, 33-36.
140. Kenneth Grahame, The Magic Ring, in Dream Days (London and New York:
John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1899), 72-93.
141. Henry Camille Bordeaux, The House, trans. Louise S. Houghton (London:
J.M. Dent & Sons, 1916), 228-234.
142. An Act to regulate the Employment of Children in places of amusement in
certain cases, 24th July 1879 (The Childrens Dangerous Performances Act,
1879)
143. An Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to, and better Protection of
Children, Child Protection Act, 1889 (The Childrens Charter)
144. An Act to extend the Age under which the Employment of young persons in
dangerous Performances is prohibited, 6th August
1897.
3.5 Menageries, Exotic Animals, and Horses
145. Isaac Van Amburgh, Van Amburghs Magnificent Collection of Trained
Animals, A Concise Account Interspersed with Anecdotes of Mr. Van Amburgh's
Celebrated Collection of Trained Animals, etc (London: J. W. Peel, 1841),
3-12.
146. Peter Hanley, Random Recollections of the Stage. By an Old Playgoer
(London, Diprose and Bateman, 1883), 38-40.
147. Charles Frederick Holder, Jumbo, in The Ivory King (London: Sampson
Low & Co, 1886), 64-68.
148. Frank C. Bostock, Origin and History of Wild Animal Training, in The
Training of Wild Animals (New York: The Century Co, 1903), 23-33.
149. Carl Hagenbeck, Training Wild Animals, in Beasts and Men: Being Carl
Hagenbecks Experiences for Half a Century among Wild Animals (New York:
Longmans, Green, and Co., 1909), 118, 121-26, 129-30, 133-36, 139-40,
143-46.
150. Mixed Species Act with tigers, lions, polar bears and brown bears.
German, late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century. (Image)
151. Lord George Sanger, How Buck-Jumping Horses are Trained, in Seventy
Years a Showman (London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1927), 192-94.
152. A. H. Kober, Circus Nights and Circus Days, extracts from the diary of a
circus man, trans. Claud W. Sykes (London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co 1931),
154-164.
153. An Act to regulate the Exhibition and Training of Performing Animals, 30
June
1925.
3.6 Patents
154. 1869, No.
447. Walking on Ceilings, etc. Patent lodged by Alfred Walter
Taylor.
155. 1877, No.
4587. Appliance for Theatrical or Gymnastic Performance. This
is Farinis second, improved patent for firing performers out of a canon.
156. 1882, No.
753. Travelling Building for a Circus. Patent lodged by
Charles Henry Keith.
157. 1890, No.
9047. Apparatus for Producing Nautical or Aquatic Scenes in
Circus Arenas, Theatres, and the like. Patent lodged by Albert Henry
Hengler.
158. 1891, No.
2041. Improvements in and relating to Bicycles (patent filed
by Nicholas Edward Kaufmann).
159. 1892, No.
8708. A New or Improved Gymnastic Apparatus
(velocipede/bicycle on rope /wire with trapeze). Patent lodged by Cornelius
Latelle and Richard Latelle.
160. 1892, No. 11,675. Apparatus for use in Performances of Physical Strength
and Endurance. Patent lodged by George Mulhall, otherwise known as George
Testo.
Bibliography
Index
Gillian Arrighi is a researcher, author, teacher, consultant, and speaker. Her published research spans circus studies, popular entertainments of the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, children and the stage, acting and new performance making, and digital methods for visualising historic research.
Kim Baston is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Her research focuses on popular entertainments in the eighteenth century, circus history and culture, and the intersection of music and theatre.
Kate Holmes is an interdisciplinary independent researcher and expert in aerial performance practice and circus history. She uses a variety of approaches to consider circus as a historically situated cultural phenomenon that appealed to audiences because of the sensational experiences it promised. Kates research has considered how world events influenced circus performers careers and explored how audience experience was guided by promotional practices and differences in early twentieth century North American and British circus spaces.
