Ayres circus in (possibly) Norfolk

[waitehoskerlewis]

When my dad was alive he used to tell me some of his ancestors owned a circus around about the Norfolk area, my mother insists he was pulling my leg but he always sounded serious to me, has anyone ever heard of it?

[JStockley]

Can you give us any more clues? Roughly what era are we talking about? I've known several members of the Ayres family working in and around circuses in England 1950s - 1970s. I've never heard of any 'Ayres Circus' and an find no reference in any of my books. Ayres are a prominent family in funfairs ....Thomas Ayres, SOUTHALL, Middlesex, makes funfair equipment.

Here's a picture of Boxer Henry Cooper (O.B.E), promoting the Ayres Gigantic Fun Fair at Barham Park - 1969

[Redroger]

The Ayres family, from which I descend on my mother's side, lived in a large area of Cambridgeshire, particularly Bottisham and other parishes on the northern side of Cambridge. Many of them had very biblical names, Absolom, Eli, Moses etc.etc. Not far from Norfolk, any connection?

[waitehoskerlewis]

Thank you for replying.

My Grandfather was called William Alfred Ayres b.22/9/1893 Ellesmere Port, Wirral, he was married to Agnes Hastry - His father was called William John Ayres b.1871 London?, he married Leah Mortimore and his father may have been called Richard Liddiatt Ayres bc 1838 and married to Emma Herod.  I don't know much beyond that

[Redroger]

Thanks for the info, it doesn't seem that there is any close connection, or possibly even any connection at all.My Ayres connection were all Ag Labs, principally in the Cambridge area.