Fossett's Circus (Established c1870 - 1879)
Dates
- Existence: 1870 - 1879
Biography
The Fossett family is one of the oldest circus families still in existence and one of the most prolific ones with branches of the family in England, Ireland and America.
The first itinerant performer of the family was the first Robert Fossett, who started making a living as a child selling almond rock in the streets of London in the early 1900s. He first became a showman performing with trained birds and ponies until he was able to run his own small family circus.
The second Robert Fossett, son of the first Robert Fossett, became one of the greatest bareback riders in the world. He continued travelling the family circus around England in the summer season, while in the winter, when travelling a tented show was unviable, he presented a static circus in a disused tunnel under the Thames.
The third Robert Fossett, son of the second Robert Fossett, followed his father’s footsteps to become a great trick rider. For some years he left his father's circus and travelled with Bostock's Circus and Menagerie around England and Ireland. Upon his return to England, he found the family business had been struggling and had to be saved by Lord George Sanger, who bought it at auction and gave it back to the Fossett family.
At this point Fossett Circus joined the Bostock brothers to present a combined show and menagerie. This arrangement continued successfully for several years with Robert Fossett as Ringmaster as well as presenting his celebrated riding act. Robert married Isabelle Bailey, daughter of the co-lessee of the Agricultural Hall, who joined her husband’s circus managing the finances. Robert and Isabelle had three children one of which was also called Robert (Bobby) who continued with the equestrian tradition, Bailey who trained wild animals and Mary who performed as a circus ballerina and dog trainer. By this time the Fossett Circus was a true family affair with parents, children, uncles and cousins involved in every performance genre and aspect of the business.
The circus prospered and grew after the Second World War gaining fame around the UK and Europe and becoming a source of trained animals to circuses around the continent as well as the film industry.
Towards the end of the 1958 season Bobby married Pauline Biddall, a wire walking artiste and the fifth generation of Robert Fossetts was born that year. Bobby died shortly after in 1959.
The Fossett circus continued operating through the twentieth century in England and Ireland with two branches of the business; Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus and Fossett Brothers Circus and continues into the twenty first century.
Found in 119 Collections and/or Records:
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1944
Black type on yellowish background with programme in the centre. Printed by G. W. McKane and Son, Keswick, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1950
Black type on green background and black illustration of elephant's head in profile on top section on front cover, inside programme, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1940
Black type on blue background, programme on front page, blank on reverse.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1974
Colour photograph of tiger leaping through the paper on front cover and red and blue type on yellow on the right hand side, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers with text and loose page with programme red type on yellow background. Designed and printed by Clarke and Sherwell Ltd, Northampton, 7p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1973
Colour photograph of tiger leaping through the paper on front cover and red and blue type on yellow on the right hand side, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre. Designed and printed by Clarke and Sherwell Ltd, Northampton, 8p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1973
Colour photograph of tiger leaping through the paper on front cover and red and blue type on yellow on the right hand side, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre. Designed and printed by Clarke and Sherwell Ltd, Northampton, 8p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1972
Colour photograph of tiger leaping through the paper on front cover and red and blue type on yellow on the right hand side, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre. Designed and printed by Clarke and Sherwell Ltd, Northampton, 8p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1972
Colour photograph of tiger leaping through the paper on front cover and red and blue type on yellow on the right hand side, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre. Designed and printed by Clarke and Sherwell Ltd, Northampton, 8p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1976
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1977
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1978
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1979
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1980
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1981
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, c1980 - 1989
Colour illustration of elephant holding a woman upside down in its mouth on an orange background in a circle in the centre of the front page with pinkish scrolls around it and a blue border, inside programme printed and glued on top of exisisting text with colour illustrations of white horse, elephants head and leaping tiger on the top section and clown and woman on the bottom and list of zoo animals on the back cover with outline illustration of elephant, 2p.p.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1984
Folding programme with colour photograph of elephant holding a bunch of flowers poster in the centre. Colour photograph of running tiger on a black background with white type and red type on a yellow background with a border of white stars in blue circles and red dots on top section on the front cover, inside programme in the centre with colour photographs of acts and performers around it and colour photographs and text on reverse.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1985
Folding programme with colour photograph of elephant holding a bunch of flowers poster in the centre. Colour photograph of running tiger on a black background with white type and red type on a yellow background with a border of white stars in blue circles and red dots on top section on the front cover, inside programme in the centre with colour photographs of acts and performers around it and colour photographs and text on reverse.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, 1986
Folding programme with colour photograph of elephant holding a bunch of flowers poster in the centre. Colour photograph of running tiger on a black background with white type and red type on a yellow background with a border of white stars in blue circles and red dots on top section on the front cover, inside programme glued on top of the original programme in the centre with colour photographs of acts and performers around it and colour photographs and text on reverse.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Programme, c1980 - 1989
Folding programme with colour photograph of elephant holding a bunch of flowers poster in the centre. Colour photograph of running tiger on a black background with white type and red type on a yellow background with a border of white stars in blue circles and red dots on top section on the front cover, inside programme in the centre with colour photographs of acts and performers around it and colour photographs and text on reverse.
Sir Robert Fossett's Circus Ticket Booklet, c1900 - 1999
Booklet of circus tickets containing duplicate tickets from No.14215 to No.14299, first few tickets missing, black type on off white background and pink covers.