The fifth in an occasional series looking at forgotten contributors to the history of Leeds. This week, we tell the story of Mary Brewer. You can read more about the history of the circus in Leeds elsewhere on the blog, or view all entries in this People of Leeds series. Mary Brewer was born in…
Tag: Circus
Tales from Circus 250: A Topography of the Circus in Leeds, Part IV
Part IV of a short series of stories from the glory days of the Circus in Leeds and the surrounding area. All the stories can be found in the History of Leeds Circus tab at the top of this page, continuing with today’s fourth and final topographical look at the various Circus sites in and around Leeds……
People of Leeds #4: Olga Denver
The fourth in an occasional series looking at forgotten contributors to the history of Leeds. This week, we tell the story of Olga Denver, circus-performer and friend to Hollywood stars. You can read more about the history of the circus in Leeds elsewhere on the blog, or view all entries in this People of Leeds series. …
Tales from Circus 250: A Topography of the Circus in Leeds, Part III
Part III of a short series of stories from the glory days of the Circus in Leeds and the surrounding area. All the stories can be found in the History of Leeds Circus tab at the top of this page, continuing with today’s third topographical look at the various Circus sites in and around Leeds… KING CHARLES…
Tales from Circus 250: A Topography of the Circus in Leeds, Part II
Part II of a short series of stories from the glory days of the Circus in Leeds and the surrounding area. All the stories can be found in the History of Leeds Circus tab, continuing with today’s second topographical look at the various Circus sites in and around Leeds… COMMERCIAL STREET Mr Kite erected his…
Tales from Circus 250: A Topography of the Circus in Leeds, Part I
To mark the 250th-anniversary of Philip Astley’s leap into show-business with his ring of entertainments near to Waterloo in London, the Secret Library presents a short series of stories from the glory days of the Circus in Leeds and the surrounding area. NEW BRIGGATE Charles Adams opened his Grand Circus on the site in New…
Pablo is Coming!
Marking the end of Black History month this week we are sharing three playbills from our collections featuring Pablo Fanque, Britain’s first black circus owner. Born William Darby on 28th February 1796 in Norwich he joined the circus in 1810 as an apprentice to William Batty who owned a small travelling circus. He was known as…
Roll Up, Roll Up, the Circus Comes to Leodis
For those of you feeling like running away to join the circus take a look at the Leodis website, our photographic archive of Leeds, to see the circus visiting the city. First we have 1950s images of crowds flocking to the Bertrum Mills Circus big top on Woodhouse Moor, visible in the sky above is…
The Secret Library | Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog 