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Codona (Established c1790)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established c1790
  • Usage: Established 1970

Biography

The history of the Codona family started in Scotland in the 1790s with Francesco Codoni, a circus performer of Swiss. Italian origin. Generations of descendants from Francesco continued performing in circuses all over Europe and Britain. In the mid nineteen century Henry and Enrique Codona formed the internationally acclaimed Flying Codonas trapeze act. By the 1860s the family started to shift from the circus to the fairground with the purchase of several steam powered rides.

After travelling the British fairgrounds for over 100 years, the family established Codona’s Amusement Park in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1970. The park is currently managed by the third generation of the family.

Found in 18 Collections and/or Records:

Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1875 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.34
Scope and Contents Plans and elevation drawings for various fairground rides, including No.2 car track, Whirlwind racer, Switchback frames for J. Whiting, Weymouth Ghost Train, No.1 and No.2 Swoops, No.1, No.2, No.3, No.11, No.16 (alterations), No.33 (extension), No.47, No.52, No.54 and No.64 Arks, No.30 Noah’s Ark, No.31 Ark extension and No.4 alterations to the front for Frank Codona, cut out of motorcycle, Yo-Yo, No.8 Ghost Train, survey of ground for the Ghost Train Westover Amusement Park Bournemouth and...
Dates: c1875 - 1939

Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1880 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.35
Scope and Contents Plans and elevation drawings for various fairground rides, including No.64 Ark, No.52, No.54 Dodgems, No.1 Water Dodgem, Whirlwind racer design and electrical diagram, Yo-Yo centre drum, Swings, Joy Wheel, track for Gymnastic railway for East Coast Amusements, Ghost Train, Scenic No.1, commercial development on Burton-upon-Trent, Wall of Death, No.3 Monorail, No.8 Ghost train, Auto Skooter for Blackpool Olympia, Anderton and Rowland’s Dodgem’s carrier, No.45 Ark pay box, Codona’s Noah’s Ark...
Dates: c1880 - 1939

Blueprints of Plans and Elevations for Various Fairground Rides and Details, c1915 - 1949

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.33
Scope and Contents Plans and elevations for various fairground rides including No.24 Monorail, arrangement of swing boats, plan for Burton bridge widening, Collins Battersea cars, Wall of Death, Rocket Speedway, Coaster plan for John Collins in Yarmouth, No.7, No.8 and No.1 Ghost Trains, Weymouth and Ramsgate Ghost Trains, Monkey Roundabout, No.8 Dodgem for Yarmouth, plans for Leeds Amusement Park, No.48, No.49, No.57, No.53, No.52, No.68, No.22, No.29, No.35, No.66 and No.14 Dodgems, Codona Dodgem, No.1 Water...
Dates: c1915 - 1949

Codona's Ark Centre Elevation, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(xlvi)
Scope and Contents

Elevation of proposed centre for William Codona's ark.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts, c1880 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178V10.54
Scope and Contents

Drawings for ride fronts, shows and carts, including Chamberlain’s show front carved by W.E. Hilton, Bostock’s show front, chalk rubbing for window design, centre pay box for organs, Ghost trains, Corrigan’s front entrance, Smart and Elson sign, Frank Codona’s Speedway, Egyptian Helter Skelter design and Parry’s Famous Shows front.

Dates: c1880 - 1939

Dodgem Plan and Elevation, June 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.33(xxviii)
Scope and Contents

Side elevation and floor plan of dodgems for Codona, scale 3/8".

Dates: June 1928

Frank Codona's Speedway Frontage, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xvii)
Scope and Contents

Colour drawing of ride frontage containing landscape scenes and Egyptian inspired columns. Stamped Geo. Orton, Sons & Spooner, Burton-on-Trent. Contains notes about decorative finishes.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

Jungle Design, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(vii)
Scope and Contents

Art Deco style, colour design for Codona's Jungle ride entrance.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

No.1, No.2 and No.3 Arks Elevation, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.34(xxxix)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of the outside of No.1 Noah's Ark for Frank Codona, No.2 for J. and H. Evans and No.3 for William Codona with entrance.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

No.3 Ark Elevation, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.36(v)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Wm. Codona's ride showing front elevations, scale 1/2".

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.4 Noah's Ark Elevation, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.34(xxviii)
Scope and Contents

Alterations to No.4 Noah's Ark's front for John Codona's Super Jungle ride, scale 3/4".

Dates: c1930 - 1939

No.31 Noah's Ark Plan, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.34(xxiv)
Scope and Contents

No.31 Ark extension sleepers plan for Frank Codona, scale 1/2".

Dates: c1930 - 1939

Oversize Plans for Fairground Rides, c1920 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.36
Scope and Contents

Oversize plans for fairground rides including No.20, No.42, No.45 Noah’s Ark, Codona’s No.3, Slater’s Platform, Rocket Speedway, Ghost Train and No.57 Dodgem.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Photographic Album, 1905 - 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13688
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs, amusement parks, steam engines, living wagons, fairground shows and showpeople, including Marshall, Manders, Randall Williams, Codona, Holland, Smart, Wilson, Kaye, Jervis, White, Peters, Thurston, Pat Collins and Turner at Nottingham Goose Fair, Coventry Pot Fair, Poole Fair, Ashton, Newcastle, Widnes Fair, Birmingham Whit Fair and Knutsford and other locations and showmen and a...
Dates: 1905 - 1953

Photographic Album, 1941 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13696
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, steam engines and transport, circus and fairground shows including Crow, Harry Lee, Smart, Bertram Mills, Farrar, Butlin, Codona, Silcock, Shaw, Marshall, Pat Collins, M.A. Collins, Harry Lee and Wallis at Oldham Fair, Lincoln Fair, Bootle, Huddersfield, Southport, Hull Fair, Knottingley Fair, Stanley Park and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland Scott,...
Dates: 1941 - 1955

Photographs and Postcards, c1899 - 1969

 Series
Reference code: 178C57
Scope and Contents

Photographs, postcards and negatives of fairgrounds taken by Rowland Scott and other fairground enthusiasts.

Dates: c1899 - 1969

Rowland Scott Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0037
Scope and Contents

Photographs related to all aspects of British travelling fairgrounds including; rides, transport, living wagons, showpeople, fairground shows, circuses and organs by Rowland Scott and other authors, a selection of manuscripts by Rowland Scott and a small amount of correspondence.

Dates: c1899 - 1989

Super Jungle Front Rounding Board Artwork, c1900 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xxii)
Scope and Contents

Colour design for John Codona's Super Jungle ride front rounding board, scale 3/4".

Dates: c1900 - 1929