But while the big top remains a huge draw, circus shows have changed considerably over the years. Perhaps the biggest change has been the ban on using wild animals in circuses, which became law in England from January 2020.
Lion tamers and performing elephants used to be a staple of circus shows but they were rightly outlawed due to concerns over the animals’ welfare, and it is now up to the humans alone to thrill audiences, from clowns and stilt-walkers to trapeze artists.
These photos hark back to a very different time in the evolution of the circus, when wild animals were often part of the entertainment. This retro photo gallery includes images of circus elephants at Norfolk Park and Meadowhead, and circus horses at Hillsborough Park.
All the images are shared courtesy of Picture Sheffield.
9. Circus parade
A man rides a circus elephant through Sheffield, probably passing the works of Thomas William Sampson, electrical engineers, as families look on. This photo is believed to date from between 1900 and 1919 Photo: Picture Sheffield
10. Sanger's Circus
Pinstone Street in Sheffield city centre, showing Sanger's Circus on the right and St Paul's Church in the background. This photo is believed to date from between 1851 and 1899 Photo: Picture Sheffield
11. Circus Royal
A poster from December 1839 advertising Batty's Circus Royal, in Sheffield Photo: Picture Sheffield