Printed Ephemera — 1804
Letter, petition
Handwritten petition from Philip Astley to the Lord Chamberlain. Dated 3rd December 1804 the petition requests the granting of a music licence for the winter months for the new equestion entertainment at Astley's Amphitheatre.
Astley's Royal Amphitheatre in Westminster Bridge Road was renowned for its spectacular reconstructions of great battles involving hundreds of soldier actors and scores of trained horses. Philip Astley (1742-1814) opened his first theatre on the site in 1770. His shows contained a mix of trick horse-riding displays, clowns, musicians and acrobats, and he is credited with creating the modern circus. Jane Austen referred to Astley's in her 1815 novel 'Emma'. The final theatre building on the site was demolished in 1893.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- A17944
- Object name:
- letter, petition
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1804
- Material:
paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 330 mm, L 205 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
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