Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879)
Dates
- Existence: 1870 - 1879
Biography
The Fossett family is one of the oldest circus families still in existence and one of the most prolific ones with branches of the family in England, Ireland and America.
The first itinerant performer of the family was the first Robert Fossett, who started making a living as a child selling almond rock in the streets of London in the early 1900s. He first became a showman performing with trained birds and ponies until he was able to run his own small family circus.
The second Robert Fossett, son of the first Robert Fossett, became one of the greatest bareback riders in the world. He continued travelling the family circus around England in the summer season, while in the winter, when travelling a tented show was unviable, he presented a static circus in a disused tunnel under the Thames.
The third Robert Fossett, son of the second Robert Fossett, followed his father’s footsteps to become a great trick rider. For some years he left his father's circus and travelled with Bostock's Circus and Menagerie around England and Ireland. Upon his return to England, he found the family business had been struggling and had to be saved by Lord George Sanger, who bought it at auction and gave it back to the Fossett family.
At this point Fossett Circus joined the Bostock brothers to present a combined show and menagerie. This arrangement continued successfully for several years with Robert Fossett as Ringmaster as well as presenting his celebrated riding act. Robert married Isabelle Bailey, daughter of the co-lessee of the Agricultural Hall, who joined her husband’s circus managing the finances. Robert and Isabelle had three children one of which was also called Robert (Bobby) who continued with the equestrian tradition, Bailey who trained wild animals and Mary who performed as a circus ballerina and dog trainer. By this time the Fossett Circus was a true family affair with parents, children, uncles and cousins involved in every performance genre and aspect of the business.
The circus prospered and grew after the Second World War gaining fame around the UK and Europe and becoming a source of trained animals to circuses around the continent as well as the film industry.
Towards the end of the 1958 season Bobby married Pauline Biddall, a wire walking artiste and the fifth generation of Robert Fossetts was born that year. Bobby died shortly after in 1959.
The Fossett circus continued operating through the twentieth century in England and Ireland with two branches of the business; Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus and Fossett Brothers Circus and continues into the twenty first century.
Found in 119 Collections and/or Records:
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1925 - 1936
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, advertisments and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Belle Vue Circus, Hengler's Circus, Blackpool Tower, and Sir Robert Fossetts, includes deaths of Buff Bill Kayes, Whimsical Walker the clown and Mary Ann Bevan 'the world's ugliest woman', 61p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1929 - 1936
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Fossett's, Rosaire's, Blackpool Tower, John Duffy and Sons and Crystal Palace, 61p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1952 - 1957
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings from the World's Fair, black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Robert Fossett's, Blackpool Tower, Lord George Sanger's and Chipperfields.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1938
Scrapbook of advertisments, newspaper cuttings, advertisments and black and white photographs and a seating plan relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Sir Oswald Stoll's Coliseum Circus, Sir Robert Fossett's, Belle Vue and Chipperfield's, 54p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1916 - 1958
Scrapbook of photographs, newspaper cuttings and advertisments, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bertram Mills, Sanger's, Fossett's and Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, 110p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1929 - 1962
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, black and white photographs and correspondance, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Belle Vue, Fossett's and Bertram Mills, 238p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1979 - 1986
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Jimmy Fossett's, Rosaire's and Billy Smart's, 41p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett British and International Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Red and blue type on off white background and monochrome illustrations of circus acts on reverse with programme of perfomers. Printed by Parkes and Mainwarings, Ltd, Printers Coleshill Street, Birmingham.
Sir Robert Fossett's Big Zoo Circus Programme, 1942
Black type on green background with Black green illustration of circus ring in the centre with elephant, clowns, lion, equestrian act and trapeze act on the front cover, inside programme and illustration of female equestrian act on back cover. Printed by Willsons Printers, Leicester, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Big Zoo Circus Programme, c1943
Black illustrations of circus acts including female equestrian, lion tamer and clown on pink background on the front cover, inside programme. Printed by G. W. McKane and Son, Keswick, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus and Zoo Business Card, c1900 - 1999
Blue type on off white background with monochrome equestrian scene in red on right hand side.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Plan, c1900 - 1999
Brigg. Black and white coded aerial plan of Fossett's circus ring and seating plan, Wednesday 21 to Thursday 22 October.
Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus Programme, 1975
Ringmaster Claude Yelding, Featuring Anton and Manet trapeze, Los Alomos Wild West Show, Tonga and partner ‘The Human Gorilla’ and others. Contains illustration, 4p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, c1900 - 1999
Black type on grey background, programme spreads over front and reverse.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 6 June 1938
Brixham. Black and yellow illustration of smiling clown's face on top section and four clowns hopping about on bottom section on front cover, inside programme and black and white photograph of man riding an elephant carrying a pony in a sling with its mouth and black and white photograph of circus ring with horses on reverse with text. Printed by Thomas Brayshaw Ltd, Circus Printers, Chesterfield, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1939
Black type on blue background with programme inside. Printed by Caxton Press, Whitland, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1939 - 1940
Black type on off white paper, programme inside. Printed by Ellenbray Press, Frome, Somerset, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1943
Black type on pink background with programme in the centre. Printed by G. W. McKane and Son, Keswick, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1944
Black type on yellowish background with programme in the centre. Printed by G. W. McKane and Son, Keswick, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1950
Black type on green background and black illustration of elephant's head in profile on top section on front cover, inside programme, 2p.p.