The National Fairground and Circus Archive

The National Fairground and Circus Archive 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 Gui

ld 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]

Hall's Dive Bomber (DB17a) - photographed by Jack Leeson at Rugby Rag Fair, 1964 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collectio...
02/09/2026

Hall's Dive Bomber (DB17a) - photographed by Jack Leeson at Rugby Rag Fair, 1964 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

Webb's Autodrome (AU9) - building up - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1965 - from the NFCA's Jack ...
02/09/2026

Webb's Autodrome (AU9) - building up - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1965 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

Manning's Ghost Train (GT21) - building up - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1965 - from the NFCA's...
02/09/2026

Manning's Ghost Train (GT21) - building up - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1965 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

Richards' Cake Walk (CW1) - photographed by Jack Leeson at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Fair, 1965 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Co...
02/09/2026

Richards' Cake Walk (CW1) - photographed by Jack Leeson at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Fair, 1965 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄🍰

Appleton's "Voodoo Girl" show - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1966 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson ...
02/09/2026

Appleton's "Voodoo Girl" show - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1966 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

Stevens' AEC - photographed by Jack Leeson at Rugby Fair, 1969 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄
02/09/2026

Stevens' AEC - photographed by Jack Leeson at Rugby Fair, 1969 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

Thurston's Swirl (S41) - building up - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1969 - from the NFCA's Jack ...
02/09/2026

Thurston's Swirl (S41) - building up - photographed by Jack Leeson at Oxford St Giles Fair, 1969 - from the NFCA's Jack Leeson Collection 😄

Aerialist. Entrepreneur. Artist. As part of Heritage Open Days, join Rebecca Truman for a curator-led tour of our new ex...
24/08/2026

Aerialist. Entrepreneur. Artist.

As part of Heritage Open Days, join Rebecca Truman for a curator-led tour of our new exhibition, Rope Women.

Learn more about ground-breaking all-female circus troupe, from her direct involvement as founder and artistic director of Skinning the Cat 🎪

Grab a ticket for one of the timed slots! 🕐

Saturday 12th Sep 1.30pm & 3pm
Sunday 13th Sep 11.30am & 1pm

Book your free place now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-open-day-curated-tour-of-the-rope-women-exhibition-tickets-1995075473447?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Cole's Gondola Switchback - photographed by Ron Kinder at White Waltham Steam Fair, 1964 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder Co...
19/08/2026

Cole's Gondola Switchback - photographed by Ron Kinder at White Waltham Steam Fair, 1964 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder Collection 😄

Fantom's carved Peacock - photographed by Ron Kinder at Peterborough Expo Steam Fair, 1979 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder ...
19/08/2026

Fantom's carved Peacock - photographed by Ron Kinder at Peterborough Expo Steam Fair, 1979 - from the NFCA's Ron Kinder Collection 🦚

Address

Western Bank Library
Sheffield
S102TN

Telephone

+441142227299

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