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J.W. Shaw Amusements (Initiated c1860 - 1889)

 Organisation

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

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.964
Scope and Contents

Harrogate Showfield. Shaw. Blue and red type on yellow background.

Dates: 15 - 17 August 1975

Beverley Fun Fair Poster, 1 - 2 October c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.908
Scope and Contents

Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Waltzer, dodgems, speedway, Noah’s Ark, Twist. Red and blue type on yellow background.

Dates: 1 - 2 October c1975

Beverley Fun Fair Poster, 3 - 4 October c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.919
Scope and Contents

Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Waltzer, dodgems, Noah’s Ark, Twist. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 3 - 4 October c1975

Beverley Summer Fair Poster, 9 - 10 July c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.928
Scope and Contents

Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Waltzer, Noah’s Ark. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 9 - 10 July c1975

Beverley Summer Fair Poster, 15 - 16 July c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.939
Scope and Contents

Morton Lane car park. Shaw. Noah’s Ark, Speedway. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 15 - 16 July c1975

Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 9 - 14 August c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.935
Scope and Contents

Shaw. Waltzer, Moonwalk, Haunted Castle. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 9 - 14 August c1975

Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 24 - 29 July c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.966
Scope and Contents

Shaw. Waltzer, Moonwalk, Haunted Castle. Red and black type on yellow background.

Dates: 24 - 29 July c1975

Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 14 - 26 March c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.913
Scope and Contents

Shaw. Waltzer, Speedway. Red and blue type on yellow background.

Dates: 14 - 26 March c1975

Bolton-on-Dearne Fair Poster, 31 March - 5 April c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.921
Scope and Contents

Shaw. Waltzer, Speedway. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 31 March - 5 April c1975

Brierley Common Easter Fair Poster, 15 - 17 April c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.920
Scope and Contents

Shaw. The Moonwalk, Waltzer, dodgems, speedway, Noah’s Ark, Twist. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 15 - 17 April c1975

Charles Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0069
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1937 - 1989

Clifton Green Feast Poster, 6 - 11 May c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.922
Scope and Contents

Shaw. Noah’s Ark, Moonwalk, Speedway. Red and black type on yellow background.

Dates: 6 - 11 May c1975

Dave Homer Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0057
Scope and Contents

Video cassette recordings of roundabouts, vols 1,2,3,4, filmed in Buxton, 1992 and 1993 by Mr Dave Homer in VHS PAL format.

Dates: 1992 - 1993

Films, 1992 - 1993

 Series
Reference code: 178D1
Scope and Contents

Video cassette recordings of roundabouts, vols 1,2,3,4, filmed in locations around England and Scotland by Dave Homer in VHS PAL format.

Dates: 1992 - 1993

Harrogate Whit Fair Poster, 28 May - 5 June c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.925
Scope and Contents

Shaw’s Trailer Park, Knaresbrough. Shaw. Blue and purple type on yellow background.

Dates: 28 May - 5 June c1975

Harrogate Whit Fair Poster, 23 - 31 May c1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.969
Scope and Contents

Shaw’s Trailer Park, Knaresbrough. Shaw. Waltzer, Moonwalk. Red and black type on yellow background.

Dates: 23 - 31 May c1975

Oaks Park Spring Bank Holiday and Jubilee Fair Poster, 27 May - 11 June 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178R11.951
Scope and Contents

Beverley Racecourse, Sheffield. Shaw. Red and blue type on white background.

Dates: 27 May - 11 June 1977

Oversize Fairground Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, c1974 - 1977

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178R11.900-974
Scope and Contents

Fairground posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, mainly for fairgrounds in Yorkshire, some presented by the Showmen's Guild Yorkshire Section.

Dates: c1974 - 1977

Photographic Album, 1905 - 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13693
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1905 - 1954

Photographic Album, 1899 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13695
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs, boxing booths, steam engines and transport, Showpeople, circus and fairground shows including Murphy, Harniest, Deakin, Waddington, Anderton and Rowland, Silcock, Harry Lee, Shaw, Proctor, Reany, M.A. Collins and Tom Norman at Hull Fair, Northampton Fair, Stockport, Daisy Nook, Heaton Park, Oldham and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland...
Dates: 1899 - 1955