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 146 Collections and/or Records:
The New 1959 Production of Chipperfield's Circus Programme, 1959
Black type on white background with simple black border, loose programme, souvenir booklet missing.
Tomorrow's Town Manuscripts, c1900 - 1999
A collection of circus poems by Zahrat, including poems about Chipperfields, Duffy's and Fossett Bros. Typescript and manuscript.
Trade and Advertising Material, c1900 - 1999
A range of items of promotion and advertising from a range of circus companies and performers, including artistes' photographs with act descriptions used for seeking employment in circuses and pamphlets advertising independent performances and circus companies' literature and souvenirs for public distribution and promotion including Gerry Cottle's Circus, Belle Vue, Blackpool Tower, Bertram Mills Circus, Gandey's, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, Knie and many more.
Various Auction Catalogues, 1967 - 1980
Catalogues of sale by auction for the property of Bertram Mills Circus at Christie's, Anglo American Circus animals and circus equipment and Chipperfield family equipment and animals. Typescript.
Various Circuses' Promotional Newspapers, c1950 - 1989
Various circuses' promotional newspapers including Circus Barlay, Gleich, Amar, Pinder, Cirque Rancy, Busch, Barum, Olympia, Chipperfield and Boswell and Wilkie, containing images and text including an article on the Chinese National Circus.
Various Items of Ephemera, c1970 - 1979
Various items of circus and film production ephemera.