Roll up Roll up!
Join Leeds Civic Trust this Heritage Open Days for the unveiling of our 193rd blue plaque in honour of Pablo Fanque.
The unveiling will take place on Saturday 16th of September at 11:45am
Event Information:
The unveiling will take place on Lands Lane near The Core shopping centre, the unveiling will include circus performers, speeches and followed by a performance of ‘the Audacious Mr Astley’ by actor Chris Baltrop at Leeds City Varieties.
The performance will be followed by a talk and Q&A session on the history of Leeds City Varieties with the theatre’s Creative Learning Producer.
To book your ticket for the performance please head to the City Varieties website here
Pablo Fanque
Pablo Fanque was the first black circus owner in Britain. He began his own circus in 1842 and was a frequent visitor to Leeds. His circus was extremely popular, and he was well respected.
Sadly in March 1848 his circus located at in King Charles’ Croft in Leeds collapsed and Pablo Fanque’s wife was killed in the accident. She was buried a few days later in Woodhouse Cemetery (now known as St George’s Fields) and thousands of people lined the streets of Leeds to witness the cortege.
When Fanque later died in 1871 he left instructions that his body be returned to Leeds to lie alongside his first wife in St George’s Fields.
In unveiling a blue plaque to the memory of Pablo Fanque we celebrate his enduring association with Leeds.
To celebrate Pablo Fanque’s life there will be a whole range of events associated to Pablo Fanque during this year’s Heritage Open Days!
