Circus Pinder (Established 1854)
Biography
The story of Pinder Circus is a story of union and separation. The British branch of the circus was born out of the union of Selina Ord and Edwin Pinder. The Ord’s Equestrian Arena was founded by Thomas Ord in 1812. Thomas (b.1784) was the son of a reverend and joined the circus in c1798 after running away from home. After fourteen years working for other circus proprietors, Thomas founded his own circus The Ords Equestrian Arena, which soon became a household name in Scotland and the north of England.
Thomas died in 1859 aged 75 and his circus passed to his daughter Selina who continued with the business. In 1861 Selina married Edwin Pinder whose uncles, George and William Pinder were the founders of Pinders Circus in 1854. Upon his marriage to Selina, Edwin left his family to create the Ord Pinders Circus in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Pinders Circus started touring Europe where they gained great fame and eventually settled down in France, where the Pinder’s Circus remains to this day. Whereas the French branch of the circus did not maintain the Pinder family links, the Scottish branch remained a family affair.
The Pinder's Ord Circus also became very successful and could boast the delivered of three Royal Command Performances at Balmoral Castle for Queen Victoria in 1877, 1892 and 1898.
Edwin and Selina had five children, all of whom joined the family business or joined other British circus families through marriage, such as the Connors on the Isle of Man and the Fossetts.
Today Pinder’s Circus is managed by Edwin’s great great grandson, Eddy, his wife and their business partner Mike Lea.
Found in 52 Collections and/or Records:
Charles Taylor Collection
The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.
Circus Films, c1950 - 1959
Copy of film on DVD showing circus scenes outside the tent, circus parade, trampoline acts, female aerial acts, acrobatics, clowning, wild animal acts, equestrian acts, dancing, tumbling, slack rope act, animal performance, city views and tents and buildings for Circus Krone, Pinders and Billy Smart Circus. Colour, silent.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Circus Pinder Poster, 19 - 21 April c1970 - 1979
Berwick upon Tweed. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 22 - 24 April c1970 - 1979
Dumbar. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 29 April - 1 May c1970 - 1979
Rosyth. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 26 - 28 April c1970 - 1979
Haddington. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 10 - 12 May c1970 - 1979
Newburgh. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 6 - 8 May c1970 - 1979
Cupar. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 20 - 22 May c1970 - 1979
Kirriemuir. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 24 - 26 May c1970 - 1979
Brechin. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 31 May - 2 June c1970 - 1979
Stonehaven. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, c1970 - 1979
Poster left blank for over-printing location and date. Red type on yellow background.
Circus Pinder Poster, 29 April - 1 May c1970 - 1979
Rosyths Fairground. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.
Circus Pinder Poster, 26 - 28 April c1970 - 1979
Haddington, East Haugh. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.
Circus Pinder Poster, 22 - 24 April c1970 - 1979
Dunbar Countess Crescent. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.
Circus Pinder Poster, c1970 - 1979
Berwick upon Tweed. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.
Circus Pinder Poster, 20 - 22 May c1970 - 1979
Kirriemuir. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.
Circus Pinder Poster, 24 - 26 May c1970 - 1979
Brechin. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.
Circus Pinder Poster, 6 - 8 May c1970 - 1979
Cupar Carthourgh. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.