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 263 Collections and/or Records:
Portrait of Ellen Coleman Standing in Front of a Circus Tent Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Photograph of Ellen standing in front of a circus tent wearing a coat and hat.
Portrait of Ellen Sanger (nee Chapman) Photograph, 1893
Photograph of Ellen Sanger nee Chapman standing by a lion cub that is lying down at the door of a living wagon.'Mrs G Sanger 1893' is written on the reverse of the photograph.
Portrait of Emma Coleman Photograph , 1897
Black and white head portrait of Emma Coleman, bareback rider in Sanger circus. Note on the back says 'Do Not Deframe. Return TO:- Mrs M.S. Bridser'.
Portrait of Emma Coleman Photograph, 1897
Black and white head portrait of Emma Coleman wearing a hat.
Portrait of Equestrian Girl Photograph, c1860 - 1879
Cartes des visites full body portrait of a girl in equestrian outfit. The card is printed with R. C. Arnold, Market Drayton.
Portrait of George Gilbey Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Full body portrait of clown George Gilbey dedicated 'To Mr and Mrs Austin with best wishes from George Gilbey' at the bottom of the photograph. Gilbey is noted as performing as a singing clown.
Portrait of Harry and Ellen Austin Photograph, c1890 - 1909
Photograph showing Ellen Austin standing at the door of her living wagon and her husband Harry sat on the steps. The photograph has 'Harry and Topsy' written at the bottom. Harry Austin, was one of the Austin Brothers equestrian performers.
Portrait of Kate Holloway Photograph, c1890 - 1899
Cabinet card studio photograph with 'Kate Holloway Mrs G Austin' written in ink on the bottom. The card is printed on the front with the studio name Morgan, 393 Union Street, Aberdeen.
Portrait of Marie Reeve Photograph, c1900 - 1919
Cabinet card photograph of Marie Reeve. The card is printed at the bottom with 'Hama Ltd, Studios, 22 Bedford Street, London'.
Portrait of Olive Austin and a Man Photograph , c1920 - 1939
Photograph of Olive Austin with a man in front of a circus tent.
Portrait of Olive Austin and Friend Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Full body portrait of Olive Austin dressed in performance costume and another woman standing beside a white tent.
Portrait of Olive Austin on a Beach Photograph, c1920 - 1939
Full body portrait of Olive standing by the sea on a beach.
Portrait of Olive Austin Photograph , c1920 - 1939
Photograph of Olive Austin juggling clubs in a field.
Portrait of Sarah Harriet Reeve Photograph, c1870 - 1889
Cartes des visites full body portrait of Sarah Harriet Reeve (nee Sanger) leaning onto an ornate pedestal in equestrian outfit, Inscribed Mrs Reeve in biro on the base of the photograph.
Portrait of The Austin Brothers Photograph, c1890 - 1899
Photograph of two equestrian performers believed to be (top to bottom) George and Harry Austin from Lord George Sanger Circus.
Portrait of Yetta Schultz Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Full body portrait of Yetta Schultz in aerial performance costume. Yetta was a tightrope or wire walker with Lord George Sanger Circus.
Portrait of Yetta Schultz Photograph, c1890 - 1899
Full body portrait of Yetta Schultz holding a parasol. Yetta was noted as a tightrope or wire walker with Lord George Sanger Circus.
Portrait of Yetta Schultz Photograph, c1880 - 1899
Cabinet card photograph of Yetta Schultz in her performance costume with a parasol. Yetta is noted as being a tightrope or wire walker with Lord George Sanger Circus. The card is printed Morgan, 33 Union Street, Aberdeen at the bottom.
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Proclamations, 1836 - 1888
Proclamations announcing Pablo Fanque's benefit event and speaches and appearances about the horse killing wolves incident at Lord George Sanger's theatre.