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 157 Collections and/or Records:
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
Chipperfield's Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Poster, Starting 23 December 1961
Bingley Hall, Birmingham. Colour illustrations of a clown holding up a flag pole, a tiger and four horses, main background blue, type multicoloued on multicoloured background. Notice of extra opening performance on 22nd December glued on. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd
Chipperfields Bingley Hall Xmas Circus Poster, 1958 - 1959
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.
Chipperfield's Circus Advertising Material, c1980 - 1989
Various items including a souvenir brouchure and a Christmas season promotional booklet.
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, 1954
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1955
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, also contains an inset with update programme, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1958
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, also contains an inset with update programme, 12p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1957 - 1958
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, commercial advertising and contains an inset with programme, 10p.p
Chipperfield's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1953
Colour photograph of roaring tiger's head breaking out of the paper cover on centre and gold, white and orange type on red and blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p