Astley Circus Pioneer
One of the earliest circus performances took place here.
Location: Cornwall Road, Waterloo
Description: On Easter Monday 1768, war hero Philip and his wife Patty Astley first performed an entertaining riding show here which which became the foundation of modern circus.
After making the highest ranking officer Sergeant Major of Horse in the cavalry with the 15th Dragoons, they came up with the idea of giving shows on a field here known as Ha'penny Hatch.
Philip Astley rode three horses at a time, picked up handkerchiefs from the floor while cantering and did handstands in the saddle. Indeed, in newspaper adverts, they boasted 'upwards of thirty different feats, with former cavalry officer Mr Astley sword in hand, as in real action and Mrs Astley 'rides two horses with one foot in each saddle, and fires a pistol'.
The blue plaque here is on the London Underground electrical substation and visible from the end of Roupell Street by the bakery Konditor & Cook. Roupell Street and Cornwall Road are built on what was Hapenny Hatch. The plaque nicely features a horse and rider based on an early picture of Astley's Circus.
Quirky
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One of the earliest circus performances took place here. |
Ranking This Month: 2024/3019
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Other places nearby:
Tommy's Gig at the Airport», 14.km
The Fat Boy of Peckham», 2.3km
Kenny Everett's Flat», 2.2km
Graham's King Willy Days», 4.5km
Rainbow Theatre & Monty Python», 4.0km
Basil Fawlty's Car Rage», 10.km
Home to Yellowbeard», 5.0km
Comic Wordplay in Punner», 13.km
Willie Rushton was born here», 3.5km
Leslie Phillips lived here», 8.7km
Location Pinpointed:
pinpointing the forgotten and lost history of London
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