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 202 Collections and/or Records:
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's Circus Programme, 1935
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and after performance show on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1937
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1938
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, c1939 - 1945
Black and orange illustrations of ringmaster, roaring lion, female equestrian act and performing dog on blue background on the front cover, inside programme and Circus Fans' Association information on back cover. Printed by Stafford and Co., Ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottingham, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1949
Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1951
Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front and programme on reverse.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1952
Green and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts and information on what happens before the circus comes to town on back cover. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954 Christmas season
Sophia Ganderns' Pavilion, Cardiff. Colour illustration of laughing clown's face wearing a black top hat and red and black type on yellow background on front cover, inside black and white photographs of family members and text on the history of the Sanger circus, programme in the centre, black and white photographs of acts and the Royal family with text and commercial advertising. Printed by Priory Press Ltd., The Friary, Cardiff, 8p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Circus Programme, 1954
Red and white illustration of laughing clown's face and paragraph by George Sanger on front cover, inside programme and Sanger circus facts. Printed by Willsons, Leicester, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger's Equestrian and Zoological Exhibition Programme, 17 July 1899
Windsor Castle. Navy blue type on silk with coat of arms on top section, listing acts, some of the performers and animals.
Lord George Sanger's Great Hippodramatic and Spectacular Circus Programme, c1800 - 1899
Lord George Sanger's Royal Circus, Hippodrome and Grand Military Spectacle Programme, c1899 - 1910
Lord John Sanger Circus Equestrian Performers Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Photograph of two equestrian performers in costume with tricorn hats from Lord John Sanger Circus. A horse drawn wagon for Lord John Sanger Circus can be seen in the background.
Man and Motorcycle Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of a man standing next to a motorcycle in front of a living wagon.