There has been a rise in the interest of lion taming recently and the research website will be publishing a series of articles on lion training in history. Added today a new article (in PDF format) concerning Montarno from Bostock and Wombwell’s Menagerie.
The British Library have agreed to archive this website.This means that the information is protected against problems in the future including internet problems, personnel changes, financial constraints and any other unforseen circumstances . Readers will have the ability to recover any pages that may get deleted or changed over time. It will include the blog as well as the main research website www.georgewombwell.com
From the BL’s – website:
The Archive contains sites that reflect the rich diversity of lives and interests throughout the UK. Search is by Title of Website, Full Text or URL, or browse by Subject, Special Collection or Alphabetical List.
Charles Clark’s 1843 broadsheet is decoded and the celebrity status of George Wombwell discussed in this new paper.
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An 1801 Piddcock Token has been added to the artefacts page on the research website here
Following enquiries resulting from the BBC TV series ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ a page has been added in the research site concerning the origins of Day’s Menagerie and its possible connections with George Wombwell’s Menageries.
Unfortunately the UK still does not allow many ebooks from Victoriana online. Thomas Frost’s 1874 book ‘Old Showmen and the Old London Fairs’ is one such book. However it is available in the USA at the archive.org website. Frost’s volume is a good starting point for researching Menagerists and other showmen through the 19th century. It makes a quick and easy interface for researchers and others interested in the period. Be warned that it has sometimes relied heavily on perpetual myths and other unqualified reports for its information. At this time it is a free online read.
The link is: Thomas Frost
Two pages have been added to this blog. Firstly a Contacts page and secondly following demand for copies of a published article an Articles page where it can be read at leisure.
Please also note that the link to the research website has been moved to the top right.
Day's Menagerie. Oxford St Giles Fair. 1895.
Tonight’s programme featured Larry Lamb the actor and gave a good impression of what the travelling showman’s life was like in the late 1900s. Worth a watch:
Title from Wombwell's proved Will dated January 1851
We have added our transcript of Wombwell’s proved last Will and Testament to the website. If you have a copy of the original and you can assist on some of the indecipherable words then please get in touch with us.
