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Astley's Amphitheatre (1773 - 1891)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: 1773 - 1891

Biography

Astley's Amphitheatre also known as Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, was founded by circus performer and entrepreneur Philip Astley in 1773 in Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, London. Astley’s was considered the first home of modern circus and as such had a lot of prestige among circus impresarios, who took over its management over the years.

The Amphitheatre was built out of wood and lit up by candlelight and later gas, which made if vulnerable to fire. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt on several occasion including in 1794 and 1803.

Astley achieved such prestige during his lifetime that his amphitheatre continued operating long after his death first managed by his brother and then by some of the most successful names in British circus including Andrew Ducrow, William Batty, William Cooke and George Sanger who acquired it in 1871 and operated it for more than twenty years.

Found in 33 Collections and/or Records:

Grand Annual Christmas Pantomime Script, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z54.2
Scope and Contents George Sanger's Grand National Amphitheatre, late Astley's, Westminster Bridge Road. 16th Annual Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime entitled Robison Crusoe or Harlequin Man Friday and the King of the Cannibal Islands, starring Miss Bella Brian, Miss Annie Craston, Miss Alice Rees, Mr H. Bu Val, Miss Marie Brian, Miss Ellen Sanders, Mr J. F. Brian, Mr James Holloway, Mr Harris, Mr Harry Elliston, Mr Fred Stone, Mr William Walton, Miss Lillie Woods, Collins & Anderson, Mr E. O'Grady, Mr J....
Dates: c1800 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Sanger Circus Collection / Various

Handbills, c1786 - 1968

 Series — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1
Scope and Contents

Handbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances in London.

Dates: c1786 - 1968
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / John Bramwell Taylor Collection

Handbills for Assorted Venues, Mainly in London, c1800 - 1939

 Sub-Series — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.187-207
Scope and Contents

Handbills for travelling shows, exhibitions and performances at various venues, mainly in London.

Dates: c1800 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / John Bramwell Taylor Collection / Handbills

John Bramwell Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0086
Scope and Contents The collection consists of handbills, programmes and small flyers for shows, fairs, expositions and circus performances in the nineteenth century. The circus material in the Bramwell Taylor Collection was sponsored by the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain and consists of material relating to 19th century touring circuses, individual acts and purpose built hippodromes such as Hengler’s Circus and Astley’s Amphitheatre. Additionally this collection also contains a small amount of...
Dates: c1786 - 2003
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000

 Series
Reference code: 178V11
Scope and Contents

Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.

Dates: c1800 - 2000
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection

Posters, c1800 - 2011

 Series
Reference code: 178R47
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1800 - 2011
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection

Programmes, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents

A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

Dates: c1800 - 2019
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection

Royal Amphitheatre Astley's Poster, 2 September 1828

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.47
Scope and Contents Mr. S. Smith, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Herring, Mr. S. Foster, Mr. Ridgway, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Chapman, Mrs. Gomersal, Miss Ross and Mrs. West in Blue Beard or Female Curiosity, Miss Woolford and Miss Cooke in double tightrope act, Mr. Lewis clown, The Elephant, Mr. Ducrow's New Scenes, The Two Favourite Dwarf Ponies, Mr. Wilkinson as The Wild Peruvian, Mr. J. Ducrow clown, The Flying Indian on the slack rope, Mr. Cartlitch, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Herring, Mrs. Pope, Miss Burrell and Mrs....
Dates: 2 September 1828
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Posters / Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters

Royal Amphitheatre Astley's Poster, 21 September 1829

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.48
Scope and Contents Mr. Leclercq, Miss Burnett, Master Frampton in Tippoo Saib or The Storming of Seringapatam, Mr. Leclercq, Mr. Herring, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Cartlitch, Mr. S. Foster, Mrs. Yates and Mrs. Cartlitch in Wild Boy, Mr. Ducrow in Drunken Gambler, Games of Cupid and Zephyr with the Infant Prodigy, Horse Duellist and Buffo Quadruped Fights a Duel with the Clown, Mrs. Gomersal's first appearance as an equestrian, Mr. J. Ducrow clown, Messrs. Honor, T. and G. Ridgway, Widdicomb, T. Smith, Fillingham,...
Dates: 21 September 1829
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Posters / Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters

Royal Amphitheatre Astley's Poster, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.51
Scope and Contents Mr. Amherst, Mr. Pope, Mr. Cartlitch, Mr. Elliott, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Bradley, Mr. S. Foster, Mr. Yarnold, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Fillingham, Mrs. West, Miss Poole, Mrs. Gomersal, Mr. Foster, Mr. Herring, Mr. Honor, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Montgomery, Master West, Upsdell, Mrs. Bradley, Mr. Gomersal and Mrs. Pope in Spain and Portugal or, Rebels and Guerillas, Mr. Avery in lilliputian horse and jockey act, Mr. Ducrow in The Chinese Enchanter, Messrs. Herring, Lawrence, Cartlitch, Foster and...
Dates: c1800 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Posters / Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters

Sanger Circus Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0154
Scope and Contents

Black and white and some colour photographs, negatives, handbills, programmes and other items of ephemera relating George Sanger's circus and the Hall by the Sea.

Dates: c1850 - 1945
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Various, c1800 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178Z54
Scope and Contents

Various items of ephemera.

Dates: c1800 - 1999
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Sanger Circus Collection

Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters, c1800 - 1930

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178R47.1-51
Scope and Contents

Early circus and menagerie posters including Polito's menagerie, Astley's Amphitheatre and Pablo Fanque's, Sanger's, Powell's, Ducrow's, Cooke's and Hengler's circuses among others.

Dates: c1800 - 1930
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Posters

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