Chipperfield's Circus (Established c1800)
Dates
- Existence: Established c1800
Biography
Chipperfield's Circus has its roots in the Thames Frost Fair of 1684, where James Chipperfield started to show performing animals. The tradition of working with wild animals has been the signature of the Chipperfield family ever since.
The tradition of dipping in and out of the fairground continued with James William Chipperfield Sr. (1775-1866), who worked as a bootmaker and theatre costume maker during the winter, and travelled the fairs during the summer with his performing animal shows.
Over the following decades, the family grew and the business expanded exponentially as the small fairground shows evolved into a circus. By the nineteenth century, Chipperfield Circus had become one of the best-known circuses in England and was touring widely with a menagerie of animals and teams of acrobats, clowns and animal trainers generated by the family. By the end of the Second World War, they could boast of having one of the largest circus in Europe.
Chipperfield’s Circus reached its peak of fame in the mid twentieth century, when siblings James ‘Jimmy’ (1912–1990), Richard ‘Dick’ (1875-1959), Marjorie (1916-1975) and John (1875-1978) became joined proprietors of the business.
In the 1960s led by Jimmy Chipperfield, the business expanded into drive through safari parks. They opened Longleat Safari Park in 1966, Windsor Safari Park in 1969 and Lambton Lion Park in 1972. In 1970 they helped start the Woburn Safari Park and in 1971 Blair Drummond Safari Park, and they also helped open Knowsley Safari Park. At the same time they provided and trained pets and circus animals for Hollywood movies.
Chipperfield Circus, stopped touring in 1990, only to return in 2010 as Charles Chipperfield Circus, an all human show, led by Charles Chipperfield, seventh generation of the family. Other members of the Chipperfield family have continued working for other circuses in the UK, Europe, South Africa and America.
Found in 140 Collections and/or Records:
A collection of historic circus posters from the Arthur Fenwick collection, Tyne & Wear Archives made public online for First Time! Handbill, 2013
Chipperfields Circus and Menagerie. Newcastle September 8th to September 20th. Circus Central.
A collection of historic circus posters from the Arthur Fenwick collection, Tyne & Wear Archives made public online for First Time! Handbill, 2013
Chipperfields Circus and Menagerie. Newcastle September 8th to September 20th. Circus Central.
Bingley Hall Christmas Circus Programme, 1981 - 1982
Programme in black type on white background on front cover, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text in the centre and back cover, 2p.p
Blackpool Tower and Chipperfield Circus Photographic Album, 1940 - 1951
Black and white photographs and postcards of acts and performers on and off the ring with annotations, 15p.p.
British Circus and Variety Programmes, 1949 - 1970
Camera Script for Chipperfield's Christmas Circus, 1977
Kempton Racecourse. Details of schedule and notes of changes.
Catalogues, 1844 - 1980
Catalogues of sale of circus property including Van Amburgh and Bertram Mills.
Chipperfield Archive Film, c1930 - 2000
Film showing archive footage of the Chipperfield Circus on VHS cassette format.
Chipperfield Archive Film, 1934 - 1935
Film showing archive footage of the Chipperfield Circus on VHS cassette format.
Chipperfield Brothers Christmas Circus Programme, 26 December 1994 - 15 January 1995
Sheffield. Red and black photograph of woman from behind and white unicorn and white type on red background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts and programme in the centre, 4p.p
Chipperfield Brothers Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of large clown's face, leaping lion and cycling acrobatic act on blue, pink and red background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 4p.p
Chipperfield Circus in South Africa and Circus of Horrors Films, c1960 - 1969
Lynx Films Limited. Colour and black and white, silent. DVD1 footage of ship arriving at a port and circus, home made movie, original probably 8 or 16 mm, 00:48:58 mins. DVD2 'Circus of Horrors' commercial film, starring stars Anton Diffring, Yvonne Monlaur and Erika Remberg, 01:35:30 mins. South Africa and England.
Chipperfield Circus Programmes, 1963 - 1995
Chipperfield Circus programmes, including Jimmy Chipperfield, Mary Chipperfield and Tony Hopkins presenting the Chipperfield Circus, contain black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts with text, programme and commercial advertising.
Chipperfield Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Chipperfield Circus programmes including Chipperfield Brothers Circus and Sally Chipperfield Circus
Chipperfield Circus Promotional Pack, 1976
Chipperfield's Easter Circus with David Hamilton. Includes running order, hat, badges and stickers.
Chipperfield Family Scrapbook, 1939 - 2003
Scrapbook containing black and white and colour photographs, newspaper cuttings and photocopies of newspaper articles and images referring to Sally Chipperfield's circus and animals.
Chipperfield's Africa's Greatest Circus Programme, 1967
Colour illustration of rearing white horse on right hand side and clown's face on bottom left over a green background with red, black, yellow and blue type on front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers on different colour background with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Circus Programme, 1960 - 1961
Colour illustration of elephant wearing a crown on right hand side and yellow, black and white type on red, yellow and blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, red comical illustrations, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Circus Programme, 26 December 1959
Birmingham. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a crown on right hand side and yellow, black and white type on red, yellow and blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, red comical illustrations, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Circus Programme, 26 December 1959
Birmingham. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a crown on right hand side and yellow, black and white type on red, yellow and blue background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, red comical illustrations, programme in centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p