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:
Sally Chipperfield's Circus Poster, c1990 - 1999
Bingley Hall, Birmingham. Contains colour photograph. Printed by Peerless Press Limited, Spoon Lane, West Bromwich.
Sally Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1 July - 10 September 1983
Westover Ice Rink. Colour illustrations of circus acts including a high wire act on top right, a roaring lion's head on top left next to an acrobatic act, animals along the bottom section, leopards and panthers on stepped contraption with tamer and clonw's face on right over a blue background on front cover, inside colour photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Sally Chipperfield's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of clown, elephant, bear, poodle, lioness and horse on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white and colour photographs of performers and acts on blue background with text, programme in the centre, 4p.p
Sally Chipperfield's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Colour illustration of cartoon lion and tiger stood in front of a circus tent and clown on a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and 2p.p insert with programme and black and white photographs, 8p.p
Scrapbook, 1963, 1980 - 1995
Scrapbook compiled by Ron White containing advertisements for local Scottish and north of England circuses between 1980 and 1995. Includes a loose folder of material with Chipperfield Circus News 1963 edition, 24p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1952 - 1953
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bertram Mills, Jack Hylton's, Chipperfield's and Harringay's, 14p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1949 - 1971
Scrapbook of newspaper articles, black and white photographs and advertisments, many articles in Dutch, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Boswell's and Billy Smart's, 109p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1961 - 1964
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, black and white photographs, and correspondance, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Billy Smarts, Billy Russell's, Bertram Mills, Soviet State Circus and Chipperfield's, 108p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1935 - 1956
Scrapbook of photographs and newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's and Blackpool Tower, 260p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1934 - 1952
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Blackpool Tower, Billy Smart's and Bertram Mills, 202p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1937 - 1976
Scrapbook of posters, newspaper cuttings and photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's and Billy Smart's, 48p.p
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1982 - 1983
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circus and acts including Chipperfield's, Blackpool Tower and Austen Brothers', 41p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1987 - 1988
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings relating to multiple circuses and acts including Billy Smart's, Blackpool Tower and Chipperfield's, 41p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1955 - 1957
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Bertram Mills, Rosaire's, Billy Russell's, 45p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1954 - 1958
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Rosaire's, Bertram Mills and Billy Russell's, as well as many pictures of Pekingese dogs, 46p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1986 - 1987
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Cross Brothers, Gandey's Circus and Chipperfield's, 40p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1983 - 1984
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Robert Brothers, Chipperfield's and Gerry Cottle's, 25p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1952 - 1957
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings from the World's Fair, black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Robert Fossett's, Blackpool Tower, Lord George Sanger's and Chipperfields.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1939 - 1940
Scrapbook of advertisments, newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Barnum and Bailey, John Duffy and Sons, Chipperfield's and Rosaire's, 54p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1938
Scrapbook of advertisments, newspaper cuttings, advertisments and black and white photographs and a seating plan relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Sir Oswald Stoll's Coliseum Circus, Sir Robert Fossett's, Belle Vue and Chipperfield's, 54p.p.