Aspland, George, 1836 - 1911

Person

Dates

Existence: 1836 - 1911

Biography

George Valentine Aspland was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire in 1836.As a boy he worked as an ironmonger, a baker and eventually agricultural worker, although he had always been interested in becoming a fairground showman.

George first started working in the fairs with a rudimentary shooting gallery, which evolved as the business progress. In time George purchased a photo booth, which he travelled together with the shooting gallery. By 1872, George had added a man powered bicycle ride, which he later mechanised by adding a steam driven engine and by 1880 an additional Sea on Land manufactured by Savages.

In 1875 George Aspland was joined by his brother in law, Ben Howden, forming Aspland-Howden. Ben brought his engineering skills to the business which complemented George's skills with the running of the rides and the photographic booth.

In 1895, when George retired, Ben took ownership of the business and continued running it under the unified family name of Aspland-Howden.

George died in 1911.

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1880 - 1939

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178M15.35

Scope and Contents Plans and elevation drawings for various fairground rides, including No.64 Ark, No.52, No.54 Dodgems, No.1 Water Dodgem, Whirlwind racer design and electrical diagram, Yo-Yo centre drum, Swings, Joy Wheel, track for Gymnastic railway for East Coast Amusements, Ghost Train, Scenic No.1, commercial development on Burton-upon-Trent, Wall of Death, No.3 Monorail, No.8 Ghost train, Auto Skooter for Blackpool Olympia, Anderton and Rowland’s Dodgem’s carrier, No.45 Ark pay box, Codona’s Noah’s Ark...

Dates: c1880 - 1939

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Neil Watson Collection

Fonds

Reference code: NFA0016

Scope and Contents

The collection contains photocopies of photographs of Aspland & Howden rides, photocopies of 5 newspaper cuttings of the Aspland & Howden families and a 45 minute videotape of Boston fair from 1994.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Orton and Spooner Collection

Fonds

Reference code: NFA0070

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.

Dates: c1870 - 1969

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive