A popular Liverpool based, Court Minstrel troupe of the day

My next Everton Grave story, started with a small 4 line obituary in the London edition of ‘The Era’ published on Saturday 30th April 1887.

The obituary reads… DIED, April 17th, at Liverpool, Henry Tudor Hall, the beloved brother of William Tudor and Funny Fred Hall, age forty-six years. Interred at Everton Cemetery. American papers please copy.

William Hall (Henry’s father), was born in 1822 and lived in Liverpool, before travelling down to the Lambeth district of London in the 1840’s, and setting himself up as a Blacksmith. In 1841, he met, and married Mary Ann Broom, the couple went on to have 6 children… 5 boys and 1 girl.

The 1861 census, shows us the young man attached to this Everton grave story… Henry T. Hall was, in 1861 aged 19, but in the following decade Henry has left his childhood home, and has joined the circus for a life of adventure and travel, Henry, after some time was to set up his own ‘Court Minstrel’ band, at Stoodley’s travelling Circus, playing to packed houses, when he and his fellow band members, would black-up, to play and sing popular ‘Old South’ African-American music of the day. There were a number of Court Minstrel troupes in this era, playing in the provinces of England (the Livermore Brothers being one of these bands, who frequented Liverpool at around the same time). It would be another decade before Henry’s brothers would join him in the Circus business, meeting and learning from, the string of International Circus stars employed at Stoodley’s circus, from not only the ‘continent’, but all over the world.

A typical Liverpool Rope Merchant of the era

When Henry, died at the age of 46, the Everton Burial Register, lists him as a Hand-rope Dealer, boarding at 8 Netherfield Rd. Henry’s information at this time suggests, that Henry had branched out from just making a living with the band, to become a dealer who bought the ropes needed for the circus to operate on a day-day basis, from erecting the tents, to ropes used by the performers during their acts. Henry was in Liverpool, to source and buy ropes from his usual suppliers in Liverpool, However, it looks like Henry has died at his lodging house, and as there are no kin, to arrange his funeral, he has been laid to rest quickly and quietly here in Everton Cemetery.

Henry’s youngest brother, Frederick Tudor Hall, joined his brothers in the ‘Court Minstrel’ band, at Stoodley’s circus during his teen years, but found himself being drawn to the ‘clown’ side of the circus profession, Frederick went on over time, to establish himself as one of ‘THE’ clowns of the Victorian era, calling himself ‘Funny Fred Hall’ and it is reported that he was one of Queen Victoria’s favourite clowns of the day. Funny Fred Hall, was to die at the age of 43 on 28th August 1898, in Cambridge, and is buried at Mill Road Cemetery / Cambridge. His headstone Inscription reads… Fond Memory of FREDERICK TUDOR HALL beloved husband of JULIA HALL d Aug 28 1898 in his 43rd year.

Funny Fred Hall

Henry’s 2nd youngest brother William, went on to found his very own travelling circus, called Tudor’s Circus in the early 1890’s. However, by 1894 William had erected a permanent building to house his circus, called Tudor’s Empire Circus, based in Gateshead. This would be their home through the winter season. No doubt, his brother Funny Fred Hall, was one of his top and popular attractions as Funny Fred was now the proprietor of his own troupe of clowns, who travelled independently around the country in their own right… who knows… he may have even performed at our own, Liverpool Olympia Circus (by the Grafton Ballrooms). The permanent home of Tudor’s Circus went on to expand into Variety acts, before being sold on… William is shown in the 1911 census, and both he and his wife Edith, are listed as ‘Variety Artists’ (animal trainers). William died in 1940 at the age of 87, in Northumberland.

A typical British travelling circus of the day

Liverpool’s Olympia Circus

More info on William’s Circus can be found here…

http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/GatesheadTheatres.htm#standard

  Tudor’s Circus (permanent building) in Gateshead/Northumberland

The Liverpool Based, Livermore Minstrels appearing at Tudors Circus
(Ipswich – Evening Star – 22nd June 1899)

It is unclear (but doubtful), whether any of Henry’s family, actually attended his funeral on 20th April 1887, as Henry was buried just 3 days after his death date and a full 13 days before his obituary notice, but one thing is certain… Henry was interred in a multiple occupancy ‘Public’ grave, paid for by the Corporation (City Fathers)… here at Everton Cemetery.