Wombwell Menagerie (c1805 - 1879)
Dates
- Existence: c1805 - 1879
Biography
George Wombwell (1769-1846) was born in Dudnorend, Essex, and developed a passion for animals from a very early age while caring for a range of domestic animals as a child.
His life as a showman was the result of a visit to the London Docks at the turn of the century. Here he witnessed the arrival of the largest boa constrictors ever seen in the country. The purchase of two of these specimens formed the beginning of the Wombwell travelling menagerie and wild animal trading business in 1805 and established the foundations of one of the greatest menageries ever to exist in the UK.
The Wombwell menagerie enjoyed great success and expanded over the life of George Wombwell to three menageries. In 1830, it enjoyed royal patronage for the first time and successive royal visits followed until the last visit to the No.1 Menagerie in 1869 at Ballater.
After George’s death, the original No. 1 Menagerie passed to his widow Eliza (1790-1856) while the third menagerie declined and was sold off. It was the second menagerie that was to pass down through the family to become the renowned Bostock and Wombwell Menagerie.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Royal Windsor Big Top Show Programme, 28 May 1977
Home Park, Windsor. Black and white illustration of Wombwell's tent with elephant walking out and people around on top section and silver and white type on blue background on the front cover, inside Black and white photographs of the Queen, famous personalities and circus performers, articles and commercial advertising, 22p.p.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, c1900 - 1999
Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including George Wombwell, Lord George Sanger, Billy Smart and Bertram Mills, 102p.p.
Smart Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999
Smart Circus programmes, including Billy Smart Circus, David Smart Circus and Smart Circus Royal Performance Galas.