The National Fairground and Circus Archive

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The National Fairground and Circus Archive

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The collection also includes a unique body of ephemera (programmes, handbills, posters, charters and proclamations, plans and drawings).

The NFCA is a unique collection of photographic, printed, manuscript and audiovisual material - covering every aspect of the fair, circus and allied entertainments - as well as the culture, business, and life of travelling show people. The National Fairground & Circus Archive (NFCA) was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sheffield in 1994, with the support of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and the Fairground Association of Great Britain. Housed in the Western Bank Library, it is a unique collection of photographic, printed, manuscript and audiovisual material covering all aspects of the culture of travelling showpeople, their organisation as a community, their social history and everyday life; and the artefacts and machinery of fairgrounds. Our key collecting areas include fairs, circus, shows, magic and illusion, variety, entertainment spaces such as the sea-side, pleasure garden and amusement park, and many aspects of variety and performance. The NFCA collections are continuing to grow: there are now over 80,000 images in the photographic collection, in addition to audio and video material, journals and magazines, and nearly 4,000 monographs. The NFCA represents an important part of the cultural heritage of the nation. It is a primary resource of rich potential for research at every level; it provides a new and exciting source of teaching material for primary and secondary education, and provides access to a wealth of popular cultural history both for the academic researcher and for the public at large. For all enquiries please email: [email protected]

05/11/2026

“People were surprised that we didn’t get a big gang of men in to sort it all out for us”

In this series, we chat with Rebecca Truman, co-curator of Rope Women.

Get all the gossip about touring, travel, and life on the road for Skinning the Cat aerial theatre company (1988-2003) 🛻

From childcare to setting up their own stage rigs, the troupe overcame unique challenges and stereotypes for women working in circus 🔨

Follow the story of Skinning the Cat in the exhibition celebrating the ground-breaking all-women circus troupe 🐈‍⬛

Rope Women. 20 July - 13 December 2026. Western Bank Library, The University of Sheffield

Or explore the online exhibition: tinyurl.com/RopeWomenOnline

📸 Items from the National Fairground and Circus Archive:

178C120.72, 178C120.29, 178C120.86, 178U3.9.15, 178C120.92, 178C120.70, 178C120.38, 178C120.45, 178C120.79, 178C120.87, 178C120.12, 178C120.25, 178C120.94, 178U3.9.28, 178U3.9.16, 178C120.68, 178U3.9.14, 178C120.23

04/11/2026

Robert Bros' Circus entrance - photographed by Jack Leeson at Rugby, 1954 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Proctor's West of England Comedy Circus - photographed by Jack Leeson at Nottingham Goose Fair, 1959 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Billy Smart's Circus opening parade - photographed by Jack Leeson at Coventry, 1959 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Billy Smarts Circus Publicity Vehicle, 1959 - photographed by Arthur Jones at Clapham Common - from the NFCA's Arthur Jones Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Chipperfield's Circus, 1960 - photographed by Jack Leeson at Rugby - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Matthews' Rotor (RT16) - photographed by Paul Angel at Loughborough Fair, 1993 - from the NFCA's Paul Angel Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Crow's Satellite (TB7) - photographed by Ron Kinder at Loughborough Fair, 1975 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Stevens' Super Loop - photographed by Ron Kinder at Loughborough Fair, 1981 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder Collection 😄

04/11/2026

Wilson's Zipper (Z1) - photographed by Ron Kinder at Loughborough Fair, 1979 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder Collection 😄

Address

Western Bank Library
Sheffield
S102TN

Telephone

+441142227299

Website

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca

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