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 269 Collections and/or Records:
Letter addressed to Mr Heather, 29 April 1912
Letter regarding a summons by an inspector on the handling of wild beasts, addressed to Mr Heather. Includes letterhead advertising Miss Ella’s imported forest-bred lions including text and a black and white promotional photograph of lions, with with animal trainer, Ellen Sanger, 1p.
Letter from the Deputy City Clerk of Winnipeg, 1 February 1966
Letter to Gwenda Sanger from Deputy City Clerk of Winnipeg, Canada, sending sympathy and condolences regarding the death of Mr John William Sanger. Typescript, original & Photocopy.
Letter to Barnum and Sanger Circus, 18 March 1888
Letter to Sanger and Barnum Circus from Pauline Vermersch. Ink on ruled paper. Manuscript, 2pp.
Life of Lord Geo. Sanger, The World's Greatest Showman Article, c1880 - 1899
Interview and life story of George Sanger contained in a booklet with his portrait on the front page printed in several different colours, 6pp.
Lord George and Pops Sanger's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1957
Cartoon illustration of a flying source with clowns, a lion and a bear and an animal trainer and ringmaster hanging from it on a step ladder over a circus tent in pink and black on a yellow background on front cover, inside programme and brief history of the Sanger circus on back cover. Printed by Hasting Printing Co., Portland Place, Hastings, 2p.p.
Lord George and Pops Sanger's Circus Programme, 1958
Colour photograph of head of roaring lion on a white background on front cover, inside programme and brief history of the Sanger circus on back cover. Printed by Hasting Printing Co., Portland Place, Hastings, 2p.p.
Lord George and Pops Sanger's Circus Programme, 1959
Colour photograph of head of roaring lion on a white background on front cover, inside programme and brief history of the Sanger circus on back cover. Printed by Hasting Printing Co., Portland Place, Hastings, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger and Pops Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1957
2p.p
Lord George Sanger Circus at Balmoral Photograph, 1898
Photograph of Lord George Sanger Circus with tent, equestrian performers and circus workers, trainers and grooms on the Royal Estate in Scotland in Balmoral, Scotland.
Lord George Sanger Circus Parade Photograph, c1880 - 1910
Black and white photograph of part of Lord George Sanger Circus parade with crowds of people in a field.
Lord George Sanger Circus Procession at Windsor Photograph, 17 July 1899
Photograph of Lord George Sanger Circus procession with tableau wagons at Windsor Great Park as part of a Royal Performance for Queen Victoria.
Lord George Sanger Circus Procession at Windsor Photograph, 17 July 1899
Photograph of Lord George Sanger Circus procession with tableau wagons at Windsor Great Park as part of a Royal Performance for Queen Victoria.
Lord George Sanger Circus Procession at Windsor Photograph, 17 July 1899
Photograph of an elephant procession with riders at Windsor Great Park.
Lord George Sanger Circus Staff Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Lord George Sanger Circus Wagons Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Photograph of a group of Lord George Sanger circus tableau wagons. Some of the wagons have horses standing on top. The wagon at the front, to the right, has 'The Lord George Imperial Sanger, Three Times Patronized by the Queen & 27 Crowned Heads, Established by the Present Proprietor in 1837' written on the side.
Lord George Sanger Programme, c1943
Purple type and illustration of a galloping horse on off white background on front cover, inside programme and Sanger family facts on back cover. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd., Bradford, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger Programme, 1944
Purple type and illustration of a galloping horse on off white background with note about the war and autograph on front cover, inside programme and purple and white photograph of Princess Alexandra visiting George Sanger's circus on back cover. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd., Bradford, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger Programme, 1946
Blue type and illustration of a galloping horse on off white background on front cover, inside circus facts, programme in the centre and blue and white photograph of Princess Alexandra visiting George Sanger's circus on back cover. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd., Nesfield Printing Works, Bradford, 4p.p.
Lord George Sanger Programme, 1947
Purple type and illustration of a galloping horse on off white background with paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside circus facts, programme in the centre and purple and white photograph of Princess Alexandra visiting George Sanger's circus on back cover. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd., Bradford, 4p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus and Menagerie Programme, 1922
Black type on orange background with programme in center. Printed by James Upton Ltd. Printers Birmingham and London.