Glimpse history through old images of Ascot, Berkshire, England.
This page focuses on the people and places in and around Ascot, including the Bertram Mills Circus.
If it’s the horse racing and fashions of Royal Ascot you’re after, head to the Ascot Racecourse page.
Circus 1935
Mind Over Matter (1935) – British Pathé on YouTube
Parade 1937
Near Ascot – Parade (1937) – British Pathé on YouTube
Circus 1951
Circus Trains For Xmas (1951) – British Pathé on YouTube
Circus 1952
Circus Coming To Town Aka Bertram Mills’ Circus Winter Quarters (1952) – British Pathé on YouTube
Alexander Kerr 1954
Alexander Kerr was the animal trainer for the Bertram Mills Circus.
Pet Tiger (1954) – British Pathé on YouTube
Circus 1954
Elephants And Eggs (1954) – British Pathé on YouTube
Peter & Felicity Cadbury 1957
Shopping Donkey (1957) – British Pathé on YouTube
Circus 1963
Selected Originals – Xmas Is For All – Technicolor (1963) – British Pathé on YouTube
Bernard Cuff 1964
Ascot (1964) – British Pathé on YouTube
Barbara White 1966
Dog’s Wool (1966) – British Pathé on YouTube
A Bit of Ascot History
Extract from:
Bradshaw’s shilling handbook [afterw.] Bradshaw’s illustrated tourists’ handbook [afterw.] Bradshaw’s handbook for tourists
by George Bradshaw
Published in 1858
Page 75
ASCOT (Berks).
Here the new line from Aldershot and Farnborough comes in (see page 80).
HOTELS – Royal; Station.
RACES in June.
A healthy spot, celebrated for its Race Course on the Heath (nearly 2 miles in circuit), with a Royal Grand Stand, two stables, large coach house, commodious weighing houses & c., all constructed by the Duke of Cumberland.
These celebrated races are generally attended by some of the Royal Family and the élite of the court, nobility, and fashion of England.
Twenty years ago Ascot Heath was as wild a district as any in Great Britain, with hardly a house visible from it but the Kennels of the Royal Buck Hounds, and an apology for a race stand.
Now the buildings appropriated to the turf form a little city of Olympian palaces.
On most occasions there are upwards of thirty races, some of them bringing together the best horses in the land.
Ascot Place (C. Ferard, Esq.); Ascot Lodge, Titness Park, & c., are here.
Further on, a little to the right, is Binfield and its beech-woods, in a beautiful spot, where Pope resided in his early days.
The restored Church has a curious hour-glass stand, and a monument to Admiral Vernon.
