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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 263 Collections and/or Records:

Sanger Circus Troupe Photograph , c1880 - 1889

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 3: Series 178B39; Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.155
Scope and Contents Photograph of Lord George Sanger Circus performers in front of a circus tent. There is a group of six acrobats performing in the centre of the photograph. The man to the left with a whip is believed to be the elephant trainer. The man next to him, with the wide brimmed hat, is believed to be Alpine Charlie or Charles Taylor the wild cat trainer. The young man holding the dog is believed to be George Hugh Holloway (born 1867), equestrian, wire walker and acrobat and later leader of the Four...
Dates: c1880 - 1889

Sanger Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0166
Scope and Contents

This collection contains black and white photographs of George Sanger's Circus, photocopies of newspaper cuttings and some research material related to the Sanger Family, original drawings for costume designs by June Dick, an interview with June about her family and life and various other items related to the Sanger family.

Dates: c1900 - 2018

Sanger Family Correspondence, c1900 - 1999

 File
Reference code: 178F31.5
Scope and Contents

Letters to Miss Sanger Reeve from Bernard and Mabel Harris and letter of invitation to Sunday service from G. K. Gillespie to the Sanger circus staff.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Sanger Family Group Photograph, c1890 - 1909

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.39
Scope and Contents

Photograph of Kate, Ellen Coleman aka Topsy, Marie Reeve and Mrs Rule. Identified via inscription on the front. Mary Ann Rule was George Sanger's housekeeper, who lived in Finchley with George after his retirement.

Dates: c1890 - 1909

Sanger's Circus Acrobat Photograph, c1880 - 1899

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.29
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a circus acrobat who appeared with Lord George Sangers Circus at Balmoral in Scotland in 1898.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Sangers Circus members and Living Wagon Photograph, c1896 - 1900

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.86
Scope and Contents

Photograph of a living wagon from Lord George Sanger Circus with sign written on the side 'Patronized by the Queen and the Royal Family from London'. The woman inside the wagon is Ellen 'Topsy' Austin, the man sitting on the steps is her husband Harry Austin and the man standing is Harry's brother George Austin.

Dates: c1896 - 1900

Sangers Circus Performers Photograph, c1880 - 1899

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.7
Scope and Contents

Photograph of performers from Sanger's Circus. The image shows a clown being chased by a man dressed in coarse blanket type costume, with black make-up and a club. The clown is believed to be George Holloway. This maybe an act that Lord George Sanger Circus had mentioned in the programme (178K45.1) called 'Koho the Indian Chief and Albert the Clown'.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Sangers Circus Performers Photograph, c1890 - 1899

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.54
Scope and Contents

Photograph of equestrian and acrobat performers. The male figure on the horse is Harry Austin. The female, far right, is believed to be Yetta Schultz. The two other women are believed to be either Henrietta, Florence or Lydia who were listed as performers on the 'Corde Elastique' during this time. The photograph is believed to have been taken at Balmoral on the Royal Estate in Scotland in 1898.

Dates: c1890 - 1899

Sanger's Circus Photographs, c1800 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178C108.489-597
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs and postcards of the Sanger circus and family, including family portraits, show fronts, performers, musicians, parades and carriages, some of the people on the photographs have been identified.

Photographs 178C108.502-515 show Lord George Sanger's Circus on a European tour.

Dates: c1800 - 1939

Sangers Circus Troupe Photograph, c1880 - 1899

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

Photograph of a troupe of performers, possibly acrobats, from Sanger's Circus. The man on the back row, furthest right, is believed to be Harry Austin (husband of Ellen 'Topsy' Coleman). The man to the left of him is believed to be a member of the Holloway family. The man on the left of the front row is believed to be George Austin.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Sanger’s Grand Circus Handbill, c1880

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 3: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.304
Scope and Contents

National Amphitheatre, Westminster Bridge Road, London, ‘To Conclude with the Fifth Act of Richard III and the great Battle of Bosworth Field and the death of White Surrey’, 4pp.

Dates: c1880

Sanger's Grand English Circus Staff Photograph, 1897

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 3: Series 178B39; Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.162
Scope and Contents Black and white photograph of George Sanger's circus staff, performers and carriages in front of the big top. George Sanger is sat on the top of the carriage on the left hand side. Handwritten note under the photo (same as 178C114.187), "At Lyons, Cote d'Or, France, 1879. Note height of tent; quarter poles for side poles, providing more seating. Band Carriage, King's and Queens Tableaux, with the company and family in front, Sandy on top of King's Tableau. A month's business to capacity-two...
Dates: 1897

Sanger's Grand English Circus Staff Photograph, 1897

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 4: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.182
Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of George Sanger's circus staff, performers and parade wagons in front of the big top. George Sanger is sat on top of the wagon on the left hand side.

Dates: 1897

Sanger’s Grand National Amphitheatre Handbill, c1888 - 1891

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 3: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.316
Scope and Contents

Scenes in the Arena followed by the drama of Mazeppa or The Wild Horse of Tartary, at Sanger’s Grand National Amphitheatre. circus followed by ‘Mazeppa’ a drama, and the Grand Burlesque Christmas Pantomime entitled: Harlequin St. George and The Dragon’, 4pp.

Dates: c1888 - 1891

Sanger's Grand National Amphitheatre Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.549
Scope and Contents

Westminster Bridge Road. Scenes in the Circle, Richard III and the Great Battle of Bosworth Field and the Death of White Surrey, Cinderella. Black type on off white background with embossed border, 2p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Sanger's Grand National Amphitheatre Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.550
Scope and Contents Westminster Bridge Road. Scenes in the Arena by Mr Sanger's Continental and English Circus Companies, Richard III and Battle of Bosworth Field and Battle of White Surrey, Miss Grant Washington as Richard III, Miss Gladys Ffolliott as Dick Turpin, Courier of St. Petersburg, Mr John Irving, flight of fancy, Mdlle. Emma, clowns, Tout-en-Semble', acrobatic performances by Messrs. Linden and Warren, The Newmarket Jockey by George A. Rolland, 'Les Diables', Messrs. Flexmore and Thomson, bareback...
Dates: c1900 - 1999

Sanger's Grand Procession Poster, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 June 1863

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.33
Scope and Contents

Bath, Cricket Field, Pulteney Road. Sanger's grand procession on the occasion of the marriage of T. R. H. The Prince and Princess of Wales, equestrian acts, gymnastic acts, performing dromedaries, camels, llamas, cebras, Perubian God horses, elephants. Colour illustration showing procession of animals and carriages on a zig-zag line from the top to the bottom of the poster with text in between in black type on pale yellow background and title on red and yellow over blue background.

Dates: Friday 27 and Saturday 28 June 1863

Sanger's Royal Circus Handbill, c1898

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.253
Scope and Contents

Royal London Hippodrome. 23 different acts. Printed by Chamberlain, Landport.

Dates: c1898

Sarah Harriet Sanger, Kate Holloway and Yetta Schultz Photograph, c1890 - 1909

 Item — Box Sanger Circus Box 1: Series 178C114
Reference code: 178C114.63
Scope and Contents

Cabinet card photograph of Sarah Harriet Sanger (seated), on the right is Kate Holloway and on the left Yetta Schultz. The group is photographed in front of a panel depicting an elephant. The card is printed on front with 'Kent and Fenton, Upper Caterham'.

Dates: c1890 - 1909

Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1952 - 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.13
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings from the World's Fair, black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Robert Fossett's, Blackpool Tower, Lord George Sanger's and Chipperfields.

Dates: 1952 - 1957