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 92 Collections and/or Records:
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 Poster, c1950 - 1999
Sheffield, 26 December to 15 January. Mary Chipperfield and her animals. Monochrome illustration in shades of red of a unicorn taking food from a girl's hand, colour photograph of Mary Chipperfield and a tiger, background red, type yellow and white.
Chipperfield Brothers Circus Poster, 17 - 26 April 1986
Merthyr Tydfil. Colour illustrations of a clown, a tiger and six acrobats on a bicycle, main background blue with stripes of pink and orange, type multicoloured. Location and date on paper glued over poster.
Chipperfield Brothers Circus Poster, c1950 - 1999
Cinderford, 13 to 15 April. Colour illustrations of a clown, a lion and six acrobats on a bicycle, main background blue, type multicoloured. Location and date on paper glued over poster.
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 Posters, c1950 - 1999
Chipperfield Circus posters including Chipperfield Circus, Chipperfield Brothers Circus, Sally Chipperfield's Circus, Circus Spectacular, Chipperfields Europe's Greatest Circus, Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Xmas Circus, Mary Chipperfield's Circus and Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus among others.
Chipperfield Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Chipperfield Circus programmes including Chipperfield Brothers Circus and Sally Chipperfield Circus
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
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
5th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
6th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
7th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Christmas Circus Programme, 19 November 1976
Thames Television invitation ticket admit one, David Hamilton Ringmaster, Mary Chipperfield and her elephants, poodles, monkeys and tigers, Los Alamos Wild West show, Herculeans Moustachioed strongmen, Bubi Ernesto and company clowns, Dick Chipperfield with panthers and leopards, Brucksons balance act, The Leotaris trapeze act. Contains tiger illustration, 4p.p.
Chipperfields Circus and Menagerie Poster, c1950 - 1999
Kidderminster, 19 to 21 May. Chipperfield's performing lions, Argentina's performing bulls, The Astrals, Marseline, John's wonderful performing dogs, Susan high school horse, Chipperfield's performing bears, The Gridneffs, Jix, Jax and Max, Chipperfield's elephants, Jimmy Chipperfeild presents his Bengal tigers, Fiery Jack and Co clowns, Banana and Sausage clowns. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd.
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1947
White and blue photograph of roaring tiger's head on top section and blue and pink type on pink and white background in the bottom section on the front cover, inside introduction, blue and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p