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Proctors Funfairs (Established c1870)

 Organisation

Biography

The Proctor Fun Fairs have been operating in the British fairgrounds for over 150 years. The dynasty started in the circus with Robert Alexander Proctor (b.1832) and his wife Maria Codman, who had eleven children. Some of their children made their way into the fairgrounds via marriage, including John Albert, grandfather of John Proctor, who runs the business in the twenty first century. John Albert married Sarah Ann Hall, from the Hall fairground family from Belper, where the family took base. They began to operate in the fairgrounds around Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, while still running the Protor Circus shows, with a bioscope show. Gradually, they added rides to their repertoire including the Peacock swtchback, build by Orton and Spooner, and the Dragons. Overtime, the business grew, and they incorporated more rides to their offer including the Noah’s Ark, Waltzer and Dodgems. The family moved their base to Ilkeston and later Nottingham where they are based today. The business passed to their son Albert Proctor, who run it until his death, when it passed to his son John proctor, who currently manages it.

Found in 12 Collections and/or Records:

Blueprints of Plans and Sketches for Fairground Rides, c1887 - 1940

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.30
Scope and Contents Plans and sketches for fairground rides including Electric Yacht, arrangement of juvenile roundabouts, arrangement of No.3 Gem Roundabout, details of platforms and platform rods, Yo-Yo section and pay box, cut outs of sample car, P. Collins Joy Tubes, No.1 Water Dodgems, chimney and rafter, compensation track for scenic, Devil’s Disc section through centre, Devil’s Disc (Joy Wheel) ground plan, Straight slide extension for Arthur Holland, Helter Skelter as Proctor’s, No.2 Race track John...
Dates: c1887 - 1940

Business Records, 1889 - 2003

 Series
Reference code: 178H40
Scope and Contents

Business records containing minutes of meetings, financial records, documents related to legislation and urban planning, Showmen's Guild diaries, year books, records on the campaigns run by the Showmen on the defence of Mitcham, Norwich, Manchester, Nottingham and Cambridge fairs.

Dates: 1889 - 2003

Helter Skelter Elevation, 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.30(xxi)
Scope and Contents

Helter skelter structure arrangement for Proctor with notes.

Dates: 1914

Original Artwork, c1900 - 1929

 Series
Reference code: 178V10
Scope and Contents

Drawings and designs used for the decoration of fairground rides.

Dates: c1900 - 1929

Orton and Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0070
Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.

Dates: c1870 - 1969

Photographic Album, 1905 - 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13693
Scope and Contents

Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, steam engines, living wagons, globe of death, fairground shows, circus and showpeople, including Holland, Pat Collins, Cox, Proctor, Corrigan, Shufflebottom, Shaw, Marshall, Waddington, Ling and Pullen at Nottingham Goose Fair, Hull Fair, Lincoln, Huddersfield and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland Scott, 19p.p.

Dates: 1905 - 1954

Photographic Album, 1899 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13695
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs, boxing booths, steam engines and transport, Showpeople, circus and fairground shows including Murphy, Harniest, Deakin, Waddington, Anderton and Rowland, Silcock, Harry Lee, Shaw, Proctor, Reany, M.A. Collins and Tom Norman at Hull Fair, Northampton Fair, Stockport, Daisy Nook, Heaton Park, Oldham and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland...
Dates: 1899 - 1955

Plans, c1916 - 1939

 Series
Reference code: 178M15
Scope and Contents

Blueprints of electric parts for fairground rides supplied by Mather & Platt Ltd and Hackett & Co., Electrical Engineers to Orton and Spooner.

Dates: c1916 - 1939

Records Related to Nottingham Goose Fair, 1928

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Reference code: 178H40.112
Scope and Contents

Contains documents related to the management and defence of Nottingham Goose Fair, including correspondence from William Savage, Pat Collins, E.H. Bostock, John Collins, Mellor Brothers, John Proctor a paper entitled The Defence of Fairs, a case for the opinion of counsel, an floor plan of the fair and newspaper cuttings. Typescript and manuscript.

Dates: 1928

Section Drawing of Proctor's Noah's Ark, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.47(ii)
Scope and Contents

Roof section of Proctor's Noah's Ark with notes and dimensions. Pencil on paper.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

Sketch of Peacock, March 1924

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.18
Scope and Contents

Sketch of a peacock motive for Proctor's mascot seen from the front and side. Pencil on brown paper.

Dates: March 1924

The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0054
Scope and Contents

The main extent of the collection contains yearbooks, meetings and minutes, correspondence and a record of day to day activities within The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.

Dates: 1904 - 2023

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 10
Collection 2
 
Subject
Amusement rides 10
Animals 2
Architecture 3
Ark 4
Art 2