By Neil Harrison
Roll up, roll up! As anyone from Manchester knows, if you want to see freaks, clowns and death-defying stunts, a Friday night at Piccadilly Gardens is probably your best bet. However, in the 1850s the real entertainment could be found just around the corner on Portland Street.
On 20th Januar
y 1858, the Manchester Guardian reported on the coming together of a British and an American circus, to form one giant, transatlantic ‘monster circus’.1
“The circus in Portland-street has within the last few days been re-opened, with a “monster” company and stud. Messrs. Howes and Cushing, of the United States Circus and Mr. William Cooke of Astley’s Ampitheatre, London, seem to have arranged to visit this city at the same time; and, judging from the advertisements … they resolved to perform together in the large wooden tent in Portland-street, trusting to the pecuniary results which such a combination was likely to afford, by drawing crowded houses.
“[T]he performers are so numerous that they could not all appear during one performance, unless it were to occupy something like an entire day. Each of the establishments seems to be so rich in clowns that a fresh one can be found for each act.”
Like most circuses of the time, the Portland Street carnival involved numerous equestrian stunts and events. Moreover, in scenes not entirely dissimilar to a Wetherspoons’ smoking area, the Guardian tells us that there was also “tightrope dancing”, a “scarf act” and a gentleman “of the stilts.”
Whatever was on show, the event continued to attract huge crowds. The Manchester Weekly Times reported 2 a few days later on 30th January,
“The alliance entered into by England and America at the monster circus … has received unmistakable marks of public approbation, and crowded houses assemble morning and evening to witness the laudable emulation between the representatives of the union jack and of the stars and stripes. The royal nuptials on Monday appeared to incline most of Her 
Majesty’s “lieges” to festivity, and a large number of visitors resorted to the united circus to enjoy the clever performances there provided for public gratification.”
On the same day that the above article appeared, however, the circus closed “somewhat unexpectedly” 3, before moving across the Pennines to Leeds.
Of course, you’re more likely to see a high-rise than a big top in Manchester city centre these days. But if you ever should roll up to Piccadilly, be sure to call for a pint at a tiny little Portland Street pub – The Circus Tavern.
This article originally appeared on Neil Harrison’s blog LooseRiver. Neil is Editor-in-Chief of the MMU Student Press Office. He is studying History and is an expert juggler. Follow him on Twitter @LooseRiver
Featured image and gallery: Hoang Phan Notebooks were carried from one workshop to another. Writers from different generations sat around tables, sharing manuscripts and listening to each other. Outdoors, small groups strolled along Oxford Road, pausing before buildings steeped in literary history. This was the scene during the Manchester Writing School Summer Festival 2026, held…
Featured image: Katja Ogrin With many sore heads and limbs this morning after the most hardcore day of the festival taking place yesterday, many are recovering from the moshing and pit brutality of the previous day’s antics. As the tradition of a morning movie in the Serpents Lair prevails, the crowd sprawls out onto the plush,…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After an electrifying start to the weekend, with temperatures slowly climbing, many lather themselves in suncream, shed their band shirts and rise from their tents to trek towards the arena. Saturday has big things incoming for the humans of Bloodstock 2026. Some pace themselves for the day and hide from the early…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After a memorable Thursday opener, Bloodstock 2026 opens its gates once again onto the Hallowed Grounds of Catton Park, kicking off day two of its 25th-anniversary celebration of metal. As the sun rises on Catton Park, festivalgoers emerge from their tents to prepare for another day of mayhem. The morning brings…
Leave a reply