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 37 Collections and/or Records:
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'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 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 Programme, 1976
Colour illustration of roaring tiger's face surrounded by clowns heads, performing elephants, lion's head polar bear, poodles and two horses, on a blue background on the front cover, inside introducion, history of the Chipperfield circus, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts and commercial advertising, also 2 p.p insert with programme and blue and white photographs, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1975
Colour illustration of roaring tiger's face surrounded by clowns heads, performing elephants, lion's head polar bear, poodles and two horses, on a blue background on the front cover, inside introducion, history of the Chipperfield circus, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts and commercial advertising, also 2 p.p insert with programme and blue and white photographs, 8p.p
Chipperfields Europe's Greatest Circus Poster, 1966
Poster announcing Chipperfield's move from Europe. Colour illustration of the circus being transported on a boat, with clowns, acrobats and animals including elephants, zebras, monkeys and polar bears, background blue, type multicoloured.
Chipperfields Present the King's Hall Circus Programme, 24 December 1977 - 22 January 1978
King's Hall, Derby. Black and white illustration of clown, bear, elephant, horse, tiger and poodle on a red background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 4p.p
Christopher Palmer Collection
Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Film, c1930 - 2002
Circus films on VHS cassette tape format of British and European circus, including the Monte Carlo Circus Festival and some films from television programmes.
Films, 1927 - 2007
Compilation of circus films showing acts on the ring as well as interviews with performers and proprietors, mainly produced by tv companies in the UK and Europe. Many of them narrated in German.
Geoff Stevens Collection
Collection of circus books, journals and films.
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, 1979
Margaret Chipperfield and animals, Carl Fischer Junior wild animal trainer, Rochelle Flyers trapeze, Noe-Noe and Gary clowns, Brenda Larenty wire walker. Contains photos, 12p.p
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, 1979
Mary Chipperfield and animals, Margaret Chipperfield and animals, Rochelle Flyers trapeze, Noe-Noe and Gary clowns, Brenda Larenty wire walker, Carl Fischer Junior wild animal trainer and others. Contains photos, 12p.p.