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:
Chipperfield's Circus Scrapbook, 1949 - 1990
Scrapbook containing black and white photographs, newspaper cuttings, programmes and some items of ephemera from Chipperfield Circus and other various other circuses including Wilkie's, Bertram Mills, MikkenieJoh Pearson and Billy Smart, some pages are blank, 84p.p.
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
Circus Friends Association of Great Britain's Notes Scrapbook, 1953 - 1954
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and photographs of The Circus Fans' Association Notes by 'Dicky Bird', 'The President' and 'The Hon Secretary', as well as articles on Billy Smart's, Chipperfield's, Rosaire's, Fossett's, Sanger's, Billy Russell's and Bertram Mills, 45p.p.
Circus Photographic Album, 1952 - 1954
Photographic album containing black and white photographs of circus, including tents, animals, performers, transport and people from various circus including Smart, Bertram Mills, Wilkie's, Chiperfield's and Fossett's and performers including Priscilla Keys, Togare, The Corinthians and The Bakers, some images are missing, 22p.p.
Circus Photographs, 1953 - 1992
Colour and black and white photographs of Jay Miller's Circus, Mike Austin's Circus, Gerry Cottle's Circus, Robert Brothers Circus, Chipperfield's Circus, Circus Krone, Circus Paulos and Gandey's Circus including tents, performers and acts, also Bertam Mills and Blackpool Tower Circus posters, circus enthisiast events, circus models, also a wedding at Galaxy Circus.
Circus Photographs Scrapbook, 1934 - 1975
Scrapbook of photographs, relating to multiple circus and acts including Chapman's Bertram Mills, Lord George Sanger's, Chipperfield's and Bostock and Wombwell's, 37p.p.
Circus Themed Watercolours, 1945 - 1960
Pen and ink and watercolour. Group of watercolours of circus tents and transport, including Fossett's, Rosaire, Reaneys, Reco Bros. Robert Bros., Chipperfields and Billy Smart.
Cirque du Soleil, Gandey - The Early Days, Four Towns and a Circus, Wild at Heart, 12th Monte Carlo Circus Festival and Trapeze Films, 1956 - 1994
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969
Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros., Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros., Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.
Den Curtis' Photographic Albums, 1936 - 1969
Photographic albums put together by Den Curtis, containing black and white photographs of circuses, performers and animals with annotations, including Sanger, Chipprefields, Bertram Mills, Smarts, Hoxie Bros, Blackpool Tower, Belle Vue, Robert Bros, Fossett and Luckens Continental Circus and others, also some loose photographs removed from the albums.
Family La Bonche Project Collection
Posters, a book, a postcard, project newspaper and 3 promotional handbills.
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.
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and Chipperfield Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and Chipperfield Circus programmes.
Handbills, 2013
Handbills related to the Arthur Fenwick collection, Chipperfield Circus and Circus Central.
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