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Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established c1880

Biography

Lord George Sanger Circus was founded by George Sanger after disolving his business partnership with his brother John Sanger.

George and John were the founders of the Sanger Allied Circus in 1854, which they operated with a few family members and friends. The business grew from strength to strength and by 1858 Sanger’s circus could boast of presenting the largest stud of horses ever seen in the European continent. By the 1860s the Sanger emporium owned ten permanent circuses between Plymouth and Aberdeen.

The Sanger brother’s acquired two of the most famous and reputable circus venues in London; the Royal Agricultural Hall at Islington in 1870 and Astley’s New Royal Amphitheatre in 1871.

George and John eventually decided to go their separate ways and split their various business ventures amicably.

During his career as a circus proprietor George Sanger presented two Royal performances before Queen Victoria, the first at Sandringham on 8 January 1885 and the second at Balmoral Castle on 17 June 1898.

George Sanger was a respected member of the showland community and although he spent most of his later life in the circus, he maintained a strong link to his fairground roots and was elected the first President of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain in 1890, a post he held until 1909.

George Sanger was murdered on 28 November 1911, at Park Farm by one of his employees for unknown reasons. His circus and effects were auctioned off by showman Tom Norman aka ‘The Silver King’.

Found in 265 Collections and/or Records:

Acrobat Doing a Handstand Photograph, c1930 - 1949

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.107
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a man doing a handstand on the street.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Aerial Performer Photograph, c1880 - 1899

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.14
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a female aerial performer from Sanger Circus.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Aerial Performers Photograph, c1880 - 1899

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.12
Scope and Contents

Photograph of two aerial performers from Sanger Circus.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Aerial Performers Photograph, c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.96
Scope and Contents

Photograph of aerial performers combining poses together whilst suspended from ropes. The photograph is stamped Fielding Albion Place Leeds in the bottom left corner.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

America’s Wonderland Film, 1992 - 1993

 Item — Box Noel Drewe Box 16: Series 178D5
Reference code: 178D5.157
Scope and Contents

Circusama, Yesterdays Circus Today. 8mm. Silent, in colour. Various scenes filmed by by Noel Drewe. Includes Sangers Bullfight posters, Old Town Hall, Zig Zag the Juggler, Ben Lester the Clown, a High Tension High Wire Act, Gapebridge Park 1993, Sealed Knot at Gapebridge Park, Horse Show at Brirns Camp Gaddesden, Robert Brothers poster, Rialto poster, circus variety poster, Leo the Lion's Circus Adventure, Jarmins Fields 1992, and possibly Princess Adsha on the trapeze.

Dates: 1992 - 1993

Articles and Monographs, c1880 - 1899

 Series
Reference code: 178B39
Scope and Contents

Script for Cinderella and Life of George Sanger booklets.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Astley's New Royal Amphitheatre Photograph, 1893

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.87
Scope and Contents

Photograph of Astley's New royal Amphitheatre on Westminster Bridge Road. Handwritten on front of the photograph 'Dada & Mama, Topsy and Marie on balcony' and also 'Astley's Theatre taken in the last weeks before pulled down'. The people described in the photograph are 'Lord' George Sanger, Ellen Sanger (nee Chapman), Ellen Austin (nee Coleman) and Marie Reeve.

Dates: 1893

Baby in a Pram Photograph, c1890 - 1909

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.48
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a baby in a pram in front of a circus tent.

Dates: c1890 - 1909

Barr Brothers Performing on a Motorbike Photograph, c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.134
Scope and Contents

Photograph of two male acrobats, one sat on the bike and the other doing a handstand on his hands in the open air. The motorbike has a flag on the handle bars marked 'Bros Barr'. The Brothers Barr were Thomas and Charles Barr, originally miners, of Lochgelly, Fifeshire. They were also later billed as the Aberdonians. The brothers are performing in front of a lorry marked Moxon's Circus.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Bert Sanger and Elephant Photograph , c1890 - 1909

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.67
Scope and Contents

Photograph of Bert Sanger being held in the trunk of Tiny the elephant.

Dates: c1890 - 1909

Brothers Barr Performing on a Motorbike Photograph , c1920 - 1929

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.139
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a man lying down on a motorbike seat with his legs extended upwards holding another man on his feet. The motorbike has a flag on the handle bars marked 'Bros Barr'. The Brothers Barr were Thomas and Charles Barr, originally miners, of Lochgelly, Fifeshire. They were also later billed as the Aberdonians. The brothers are performing in front of a lorry marked Moxon's Circus.

Dates: c1920 - 1929

Business Records, 1 March 1923

 Series
Reference code: 178H30
Scope and Contents

Memorandum of agreement between Mrs A. Reeve-Sanger and Rupert Heath.

Dates: 1 March 1923

Catalogues of Sale, 1905 - 1912

 Series
Reference code: 178J11
Scope and Contents

Catalogues for the sale of George Sanger's equiptment and animals.

Dates: 1905 - 1912

Circus Elephant and a Pony Photograph, c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.22
Scope and Contents

Photograph of an elephant and small pony being held by a handler. The elephant has a large advertising banner tied to its back with the lettering 'To-day at...'

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Circus Family and Tents Photograph , c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.125
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a family group seated next to tents. Two men are playing musical instruments. The woman furthest right is Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman. The man next to her is thought to be her second husband Harry Moxon. The woman, second from left, is Florence Austin aerial performer.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Circus Group and Living Wagon Photograph, c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.147
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a group of circus performers in front of a living wagon and tent. Two older men are seated left, with a standing male wild west performer and a standing woman, far right.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Circus Group Photograph, c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.149
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a group of four women and one man stood in front of a circus tent, including Olive Austin.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Circus Horses and Ponies Photograph, c1920 - 1939

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.123
Scope and Contents

Photograph of circus horses and ponies in the open air and children.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Circus Lion Photograph, c1880 - 1889

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.103
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a circus lion in a beast wagon cage.

Dates: c1880 - 1889