J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889)
Dates
- Existence: Initiated c1860 - 1889
- Usage: Incorporated 1972
Biography
The Shaw family’s fairground roots can be traced back to Sheffield in the early part of the twentieth Century, where the family stablished its winter quarters.
The Shaw family have been travelling fairs in the north of England for generations from Yorkshire grounds to Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester. The current firm, J.W. Shaw Amusements, is one the best–known fairground operators in the North West of England.
The Shaws first operated on fairgrounds around the late 1880s when Walter Shaw started to travel stalls. By 1897, he had expanded his business with the acquisition of a set of Steam Swings and progressively continued to increase his business portfolio by adding other rides such as the Wiggle Woggle and Switchback.
Walter had four sons, John, William (Bill), Walter and Charles who went into the family business from a young age. John expanded the business travelling a wide array of rides including Dodgems, children’s rides, a Helter Skelter, a Mono Rail, a Moon Rocket and a Noah’s Ark. Bill, also travelled many rides around Yorkshire and East Lancashire, including Arks, a Chair-o-plane and Dodgems while Charles focused on organising events.
John also had four sons, Walter, John, Joseph and Herbert who followed the family tradition, while Bill had two sons and a daughter, John, Bill and Pat.
John’s son Walter continued travelling the Yorkshire and Lancashire fairgrounds with various rides including the Moonrocket, a set of Hurricane Jets and a number of children’s rides. He also moved the business winter quarters from Yorkshire to Lancashire, where they have remained until now. Walter had two children, John Walter and Christina. Christina married renowned showman Anthony Harris, whereas John Walter took over his father’s business.
Walter’s brothers John and Herbert took over their father’s Dodgems and formed a partnership to acquire the business of Arthur Bates, under which name they operated for several years around Lancashire, Cheshire and Nottingham. In the mid-1900s John and Herbert dissolved their business to continue travelling separately. John retained the Arthur Bates Amusements brand, while Herbert traded as J&H Shaw Pleasure Fairs Ltd. When John retired from travelling, his business passed to his nephew John Walter, who now owned not only his father’s business but also his uncle’s.
From the late twentieth century onwards, the Shaw family business has been mainly known by the J.W. Shaw Amusements branding, after John Walter Shaw. John Walter travelled from 1974 onwards with a Waltzer, a Ramba Zamba, Dodgems and an Orbiter among other rides, which form the nucleus of attractions offered by JW Shaw Amusements together with several children’s attractions.
Although the Shaw family is now based in Lancashire, they still travel to Yorkshire and other nearby counties occupying some of the positions established over the years by generations of the family. The current generation of the Shaw family are John Walter’s children Farrar and Narvenka, who continue managing the business. Narvenka married Joseph Noyce and travels the Noyce family business with her husband and three children, James Noyce & Sons Funfair.
Shaw’s rides and attractions have appeared as far a field as Edinburgh, Dublin, King’s Lynn and Luxembourg over the history of the family, expanding six generations and are a regular fixture each year of the UK’s three premier fairs, Nottingham Goose Fair, Newcastle Town Moor and Hull Fair.
Found in 25 Collections and/or Records:
Armex '75 Poster, 15 - 17 August 1975
Harrogate Showfield. Shaw. Blue and red type on yellow background.
Beverley Fun Fair Poster, 1 - 2 October c1975
Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Waltzer, dodgems, speedway, Noah’s Ark, Twist. Red and blue type on yellow background.
Beverley Fun Fair Poster, 3 - 4 October c1975
Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Waltzer, dodgems, Noah’s Ark, Twist. Red and blue type on white background.
Beverley Summer Fair Poster, 9 - 10 July c1975
Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Waltzer, Noah’s Ark. Red and blue type on white background.
Beverley Summer Fair Poster, 15 - 16 July c1975
Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Noah’s Ark, Speedway. Red and blue type on white background.
Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 9 - 14 August c1975
Shaw. Waltzer, Moonwalk, Haunted Castle. Red and blue type on white background.
Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 24 - 29 July c1975
Shaw. Waltzer, Moonwalk, Haunted Castle. Red and black type on yellow background.
Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 14 - 26 March c1975
Shaw. Waltzer, Speedway. Red and blue type on yellow background.
Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 31 March - 5 April c1975
Shaw. Waltzer, Speedway. Red and blue type on white background.
Brierley Common Easter Fair Poster, 15 - 17 April c1975
Shaw. The Moonwalk, Waltzer, dodgems, speedway, Noah’s Ark, Twist. Red and blue type on white background.
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.
Clifton Green Feast Poster, 6 - 11 May c1975
Shaw. Noah’s Ark, Moonwalk, Speedway. Red and black type on yellow background.
Dave Homer Collection
Video cassette recordings of roundabouts, vols 1,2,3,4, filmed in Buxton, 1992 and 1993 by Mr Dave Homer in VHS PAL format.
Films, 1992 - 1993
Video cassette recordings of roundabouts, vols 1,2,3,4, filmed in locations around England and Scotland by Dave Homer in VHS PAL format.
Harrogate Whit Fair Poster, 28 May - 5 June c1975
Shaw’s Trailer Park, Knaresbrough. Shaw. Blue and purple type on yellow background.
Harrogate Whit Fair Poster, 23 - 31 May c1975
Shaw’s Trailer Park, Knaresbrough. Shaw. Waltzer, Moonwalk. Red and black type on yellow background.
Oaks Park Spring Bank Holiday and Jubilee Fair Poster, 27 May - 11 June 1977
Beverley Racecourse, Sheffield. Shaw. Red and blue type on white background.
Oversize Fairground Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, c1974 - 1977
Fairground posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, mainly for fairgrounds in Yorkshire, some presented by the Showmen's Guild Yorkshire Section.
Photographic Album, 1905 - 1954
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.