Circus Pinder (Established 1854)

Organisation

Biography

The story of Pinder Circus is a story of union and separation. The British branch of the circus was born out of the union of Selina Ord and Edwin Pinder. The Ord’s Equestrian Arena was founded by Thomas Ord in 1812. Thomas (b.1784) was the son of a reverend and joined the circus in c1798 after running away from home. After fourteen years working for other circus proprietors, Thomas founded his own circus The Ords Equestrian Arena, which soon became a household name in Scotland and the north of England.

Thomas died in 1859 aged 75 and his circus passed to his daughter Selina who continued with the business. In 1861 Selina married Edwin Pinder whose uncles, George and William Pinder were the founders of Pinders Circus in 1854. Upon his marriage to Selina, Edwin left his family to create the Ord Pinders Circus in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Pinders Circus started touring Europe where they gained great fame and eventually settled down in France, where the Pinder’s Circus remains to this day. Whereas the French branch of the circus did not maintain the Pinder family links, the Scottish branch remained a family affair.

The Pinder's Ord Circus also became very successful and could boast the delivered of three Royal Command Performances at Balmoral Castle for Queen Victoria in 1877, 1892 and 1898.

Edwin and Selina had five children, all of whom joined the family business or joined other British circus families through marriage, such as the Connors on the Isle of Man and the Fossetts.

Today Pinder’s Circus is managed by Edwin’s great great grandson, Eddy, his wife and their business partner Mike Lea.

Found in 52 Collections and/or Records:

Circus Pinder Poster, 6 - 8 May c1970 - 1979

Item

Reference code: 178R11.116

Scope and Contents

Cupar Carthourgh. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined including The Maverick cowboy spectacular, Duo Ords Jugglers, amongst others. Blue, red and yellow type on white background with border.

Dates: 6 - 8 May c1970 - 1979

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Charles Taylor Collection / Posters / Circus Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell

Circus Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, c1970 - 1979

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178R11.400-476

Scope and Contents

Circus posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell.

Dates: c1970 - 1979

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Charles Taylor Collection / Posters

Circus Research Material, 1872 - 1975

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178B30.1

Scope and Contents Photocopies of programmes from the London Hippodrome, the National Amphitheatre, Hengler's Circus, Olympia, Hagenbeck's Wonder Zoo and Big Circus, Barnum and Bailey, Paulo's Circus, Chapman's Circus, Rosaire's Circus, Grand Continental Circus at the Crystal Palace, Barrett's Canadian Circus, Cody's Continental Circus, Pinder's Royal Circus and Menagerie and other UK and international circuses, also photocopies of newspaper cuttings, ordenance survey, photographs of performers and posters,...

Dates: 1872 - 1975

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material

Correspondence, c1900 - 1999

Series

Reference code: 178F31

Scope and Contents

Items of correspondence including personal and business letters and Christmas greetings.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection

Digger Pugh Collection

Fonds

Reference code: NFA0179

Scope and Contents

Archive of the Digger Pugh family including newspaper cuttings, photographs, negatives, business records, programmes, research material, posters and films.

Dates: c1930 - 2010

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

European Circus Programmes, c1950 - 1962

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178K56.33-51

Scope and Contents

European Circus programmes including the International Circus Festival, Medrano, Cirkus Scott, Price Circus, Gran Circo de Francia, Deutschlandhalle, Cirque Amar, Pinder and Spanish National Circus featuring the Wallabies, Digger Pugh's Ladies, The Wallabies, Digger Girls. All programmes contain photographs of the acts and descriptions. In various languages.

Dates: c1950 - 1962

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Digger Pugh Collection / Programmes

Films, c1950 - 1959

Series

Reference code: 178D24

Scope and Contents

Please notice that 178D24.4 contains scenes of animal cruelty and human fatalities. Copies of films on DVD format showing performers at various circus around the world, travelling scenes, scenic views, performers behind the scenes, film sets. Black and white and colour, sound.

Dates: c1950 - 1959

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Digger Pugh Collection

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999

Series

Reference code: 178B30

Scope and Contents

Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.

Dates: c1795 - 1999

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection

Pinder and Jean Richard Circus Programmes, 1931 - 1979

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178K43.647

Scope and Contents

Programmes for Circus Pinder, Jean Richard Circus, Pinder Jean Richard Circus, Pinders Royal Circus and Menagerie, Pinder's New International Circus, Pinder's Grand Imperial Circus and Pinders Big Zoo Circus containing colour illustrations and photographs on the front covers, inside black and white and colour photographs of perfomers and acts with some text including Koringa and Rogana, introduction, programme and commercial advertising.

Dates: 1931 - 1979

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Circus Friends Association Collection / Programmes

Pinder's Circus Poster, c1970 - 1979

Item

Reference code: 178R11.118

Scope and Contents

Poster left blank for over printing location and date. Fossett, Rosaire and Pinder circus combined in the new 4 Pole Big Top. Red and black type on yellow background.

Dates: c1970 - 1979