The amazing circus images featured are from Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, Billy Smarts Circus and Chipperfields Circus when they all visited Portsmouth and Southsea over the years.
Do you remember going to the circus?
1. When the circus came to town
The Elephant & Castle in Sultan Road, Buckland, with elephants provided by a visiting circus in 1930. The chap holding the bucket, which was filled with beer, was the aptly-named Charlie Phillpots, the pub cellarman. Photo: -
2. When the circus came to town
Circus elephants Chipperfields Circus at St Mary's Hospital, Milton in 1952.
A young boy patient sent a letter to Chipperfields located on Southsea Common, telling them that he could not come, but could they come to him. Amazingly, they did. Some animals even went into the wards for the children to see. Photo: -
3. When the circus came to town
The Circus at Pier Road, Southsea, 1900 Photo: -
4. When the circus came to town
Fawcett Road 1906.
This wonderful photograph looking north up Fawcett Road on a hot summers day in 1906 shows elephants vying for space with the tram.
The elephants were possibly making their way back to Fratton goods yard from Southsea Common to join a circus train.
The man on the horse looks at first glance like a policeman but on closer inspection we can see there is no saddle so I suspect he is a circus member.
In the distance can be seen the roof of Rugby Road Church which still stands although now flats. Photo: BOB HIND