Lord George Sanger Circus (Established c1880)
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 277 Collections and/or Records:
Bert Sanger and Elephant Photograph , c1890 - 1909
Photograph of Bert Sanger being held in the trunk of Tiny the elephant.
Brothers Barr Performing on a Motorbike Photograph , c1920 - 1929
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.
Business Records, 1 March 1923
Memorandum of agreement between Mrs A. Reeve-Sanger and Rupert Heath.
Catalogues of Sale, 1905 - 1912
Catalogues for the sale of George Sanger's equiptment and animals.
Circus Elephant and a Pony Photograph, c1920 - 1939
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...'
Circus Family and Tents Photograph , c1920 - 1939
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.
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
Circus Group and Living Wagon Photograph, c1920 - 1939
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.
Circus Group Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of a group of four women and one man stood in front of a circus tent, including Olive Austin.
Circus Horses and Ponies Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of circus horses and ponies in the open air and children.