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 4 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 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
Posters, c1937 - 1989
A collection of posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell for music hall and variety, circus, pantomime and fairgrounds.
Various Items, c1800 - 2019
A range of circus related items related to Hassan Ali, Adha Issacs Menken, Barnum and Bailey, funeral items, illustrations of circus parades, circus tickets, discount vouchers and booking forms, circus themed stickers, famous clown clay models, circus themed jigsaw puzzles, circus model figures, comics books and children's books, Circus Friends Association related material, Montecarlo Circus Festival related items, Jesse Fossett's throwing knives and other items.