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:
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999
Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.
Monte Carlo Circus Festival Photographs, 1981 - 1987
Colour photographs of Lindsay Temple at the Monte Carlo Circus Festivals posing with performers and next to Chipperfield tigers outdoors in a cage.
Newspaper and Magazine Cuttings on Circus, 1897 - 2005
Newspaper Cut-Out of David Hamilton, 1976
Newspaper cut-out featuring picture of David Hamilton as Ringmaster for Chipperfield’s Circus Christmas show on Thames TV, with Kathy Mackinnon.
Newspaper Cuttings, 1976 - 1979
Various newspaper cuttings on circus and showmen, including Billy Smart's Circus and Gerry Cottle.
Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007
A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.
Newspaper Cuttings on Chipperfield Circus, 1953 - 1961
Chipperfields' Circus News newspapers and Gloucester Journal, includes photos of Zira, Katharina and Mr Pastry amongst others.
Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000
Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.
Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999
Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.
Photographs of Fairs and Performers, c1900 - 1991
Black and white and colour photographs and postcards of fairgrounds, rides and transport. Also some photographs of sideshow performers, and some circus performers from the Chipperfield family. Some photographs have been taken by John Robinson and have hand written notes on the back including location, name of ride and date. Other authors include Pete Tei, John Meredith, Malcolm Slater and Orton and Spooner. Also contains a small newspaper cutting about Thomas Murphy's death.
Plans, c1900 - 1999
Ring and seating plans for Chipperfield, Bertam Mills, Fossett, Smart and Robert Brothers Circuses.
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Posters, c1887 - 2010
Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Programmes, 1970 - 1981
Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.
Ron White Collection
Photographs of fairgrounds around Scotland and the north west of England, mainly around Ayrshire from the 1960s onwards and scrapbooks compiled by Ron White containing advertisments for Scottish and north of England fairgrounds and Chipperfield Circus.
Sally Chipperfield Presents The King's Hall 2nd Xmas Circus Programme, 1978 - 1979
Black type on blue background, loose programme, souvenir booklet missing.
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