2-324-030 - www.picturethepast.org.uk/R Shemwell/Heritage Images

Parade of Barnum and Bailey's Circus elephants, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, 1899. The parade passing along Chatsworth Road. The elephants passed after the camels and just before the children's pony wagons. Larger circuses like Barnum and Bailey's would announce their arrival in town with a circus parade. The parade was a natural advertisement for the circus and would attract huge crowds. James Bailey began a partnership with PT Barnum in 1888 and the two Americans formed the famous Barnum and Bailey Circus. Although Barnum died in 1891 the circus retained his name. When Barnum's came to London's Olympia in 1889 they travelled with 450 performers, 300 horses, 21 elephants, 32 cages and 35 parade and baggage wagons. Unfortunately the London authorities would not allow them on the streets. Seven years later when Barnum and Bailey did an extensive British tour, parades were held almost everywhere with a one to three mile procession. Barnum and Bailey's Circus toured Britain from December 1897 until November 1898, then touring the rest of Europe. The show returned to Britain for another run lasting from April to November 1899. During the two tours of Britain the show wintered in London. The show remained in Europe until the end of the 1902 season and then returned to the USA. James Bailey died in 1906 at Mount Vernon, New York.