Chipperfield's Circus

In addition to Billy Smart’s Circus, Chipperfields came to the Level in 1956. I well remember being taken; I remember the distinctive smell of the sawdust and the animals. I still have the programme for that year and reproduce extracts here.The acts are a far cry from today. I used to love the lions and tigers but, having seen big cats, elephants and other animals in the wild, I now appreciate where they should really be.

A piece of social history
The programme represents part of a social history that has gone but perhaps that is fairer to many of the animals involved. The advertisements are interesting but I have left out one for cigarettes because there is no health warning. I am sure the Wagon Wheels got smaller and smaller.

Comments about this page

  • I remember the circus coming to the Level. I thought it was briliant, I’d never seen animals so close up before. I think they should be in the wild, but when we were kids, we didn’t know any different. It was just lovely to see them.

    By Maralyn Eden (02/03/2009)
  • Who can remember why there are no live animal circus’s on Brighton level any more?
    No.
    Then I will remind you, it was ether Chipperfield’s or Billy Smart Circus that infected part of the level with fleas so badly it had to be closed off for years. In the end the top soil had to be removed. and back filled with sand and a tarmac like surface laid. That area is now a skate and BMX park.

    By R H Scott-Spencer (24/10/2021)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.