The Williams Showmen

(Warrington)

1851:    Warrington: showman  (census)
1871:    Warrington:  musician  (census)
1881:    Windle: shooting gallery proprietor (census)
1891:    St Helens, Lancashire: traveller, age 75 (census)

1868:    Ashton under Lyne: photographer (marriage of Robert and Elizabeth Cornwell)
1869:    Radcliffe, Lancashire: photographist (birth of Robert Humphrey Williams)
1871:    New Accrington, Lancashire: shooting saloon (census)
1881:    Pomona Palace Ground (Manchester): travelling showman (census)
1882:    Hyde, Stockport: showman (death certificate of Elizabeth Cornwell Williams)
1887:    Show van, Fair Field, Newchurch, Rawtenstall (birth of daughter Victoria)
1891:    Great Yarmouth Fair, Norfolk:  picture gallery owner (census)
1894:    Nottingham Goose: Williams Fine Art Exhibition (The Journals of Sydney Race)
1895:    Nottingham Goose: Williams Fine Art Exhibition (The Journals of Sydney Race)
1896:    Nottingham Goose: Williams Fine Art Exhibition (The Journals of Sydney Race)
1897:    Nottingham Goose: Williams Fine Art Exhibition (The Journals of Sydney Race)
1897:    Halifax Annual Fair: Robert Williams Fine Art Gallery (Travelling Cinematograph Show)
1897:    In attendance at the Van-Dwellers Meeting, Corn Hall, Kings Lynn (The Era, Feb 20, 1897)
1897:    Birmingham Pleasure Fair: Robert Williams Fine Art Gallery (The Birmingham Onion Fair)
1898:    Boston May Fair: Williams Art Ex (Boston Guardian & Lincolnshire Independent, 7 May 1898)
1898:     Shipley, Yorks. Williams fine art exhibition and cinematograph (The Era, Aug 13, 1898)
1899:     Shipley Feast: Robt Williams Fine Arts (The Era, 5 Aug 1899)
1899:     Birmingham Onion Fair: Robt Williams Fine Art gallery (The Era, 7 Oct 1899)
1899:     Nottingham Goose Fair: Williams Art Exhibition (The Great Nottingham Goose Fair)
1899:     Hull: Robt Williams Fine Art (The Era, 21 Oct 1899)
1899:     Hull Fair: Robert Williams’s original fine art gallery (The Era, Oct 28, 1899)
1899:     Rotherham Statute Fair: Robert Williams original fine art show (The Era, 11 Nov 1899)
1899:     Christmas: Robert Williams at Sheffield (The Era, 6 Jan 1900)
1900:     Robt Williams at Middlesborough (The Era, 3 Feb 1900)
1900:     Robt Williams “a succession of towns in the Great Cleveland district” (The Era, 10 Feb 1900)
1900:     West Hartlepool: Robert Williams fine art show (The Era, 3 March, 24 March, 1900)
1900:     Darlington and Stockton: Robert Williams Fine Art Exhibition (The Era, 19 May 1900)
1900:     Robert Williams two exhibitions (The Era, 9 June 1900)
1900:     Greenock: Robert Williams fine art (The Era, 14 July 1900)
1900:     Leeds: (The Era, 14 July 1900)
1900:    Nottingham Goose: Williams’ Fine Art (The Era, 6 Oct 1900)
1900:    Hull Fair: Robert Williams’s Fine Art (The Era, 13 Oct 1900)
1900:    Wakefield: Robert Williams (The Era, 17 Nov 1900)
1900:    Cockermouth: Williams’s Fine Art (The Era, 24 Nov 1900)
1900:    Barnsley Wakes: Robert Williams original show of fine art pictorial illustrations (The Era, Dec 8, 1900)
1901:    West Hartlepool: travelling showman (census)
1902:    South Shield: death of Robert Williams age 54 (6 March 1902)

1898:    Gorton Wakes Fair: Steam Swings (Merry Go Round)
1899:    Bolton New Year: Robert. H. Williams’s living pictures (The Era, 6 Jan 1900)
1899:    Radcliffe Wakes: Williams’s cinematograph (The Era, 16 Sept 1899)
1899:    Manchester: William Holme’s ground (The Era, 16 Sept 1899)
1900:    Bolton New Year: R. H. Williams’ Living Pictures (The Era, Jan. 6, 1900)
1900:    Keighley, Yorkshire: R. H. Williams living pictures (The Era, May 12, 1900)
1900:    Skipton Milfield: Robert Williams’ cinematograph (The Era 14 July 1900)
1900:    Patricroft, Lancs: R.H. Williams Steam Swings (The Era, Sept 1, 1900)
1900:    Gorton: R. H. Williams shooting gallery (The Era, Sept 8, 1900)
1900:    Manchester Christmas Fairs: Hyde-road ground: R.H. Williams Steam Swings (The Era, Dec 29, 1900)
1905:    Bolton New Year: Bicycles (built 1905)  (Merry Go Round)
1905:    Stalybridge Wakes:  Bicycle roundabout  (Merry Go Round)
1907:    Kirkstall, Leeds: Tunnel Railway (built in 1907)  (Merry Go Round)
1907:    Queen's Road, Albert Memorial:  Tunnel Railway (Merry Go Round, Vol. X, No. 3, April, 1957)
1907:    Manchester: Tunnel Railway  (Merry Go Round)
1908:    Wigan Fair: R. H. Williams Razzle Dazzle (History of the Scenics)
1908:    Holbeck Feast: Tunnel Railway (Merry Go Round, Vol. IX, No. 6, October, 1956)
1908.    Wakefield: R. H. Williams, Tunnel Railway  (Merry Go Round)
1909:    York Martinmass: Bicycle Roundabout  (Merry Go Round)
1910:    Norwich: Williams' Bicycle Roundabout  (Merry Go Round)
1912:    Wigan: Razzle Dazzle (Merry Go Round, Vol. VII, No. 17, Midsummer, 1954)
1913:    Bolton New Year Fair: Razzle Dazzle  (Merry Go Round)
1914:    Newcastle Town Moor: Razzle Dazzle  (Merry Go Round)
1914:    Manchester Easter Fairs: Razzle Dazzle  (Merry Go Round)
1916:    Ashton Wakes: Razzle Dazzle with Foster 13239 " Aquatania"  (Merry Go Round)
1916:    Oldham Wakes: Razzle Dazzle  (Merry Go Round)
1919:    Stalybridge Wakes: Razzle Dazzle  (Merry Go Round)
1922:    Bury: Razzle
1925:    Wigan:  Chair-O-Planes (Merry Go Round, Vol. VIII, No. 7, October 1955)
1926:    Preston: R H Williams Haunted Castle (Merry Go Round, Vol. IX, No. 4, Midsummer, 1956)

"The Razzle formerly owned by Relph and Pedley, now appeared under the ownership of R H Williams. It had a Gavioli barrel organ of rather sweet tone. The ride was known throughout Lancashire as R. H. Williams's " Whirly the Whirl" and was accompanied from 1914 onwards by the Foster 13239 "Aquatania" (Merry Go Round)

1870:  Dewsbury: travelling showman (marriage of Joseph and Louisa Williams)
1875:  Fleetwood, Lancashire: travelling showman residing Preston Street (birth of son Randall)
1873:  Sandyhilloch Showground, Coatbridge, Scotland (birth of son Andrew)
1881:  Grantham, Lincoln: showman with a mechanical exhibition (census)

1896:    County of Newcastle: traveller in show (marriage certificate)
1901:    Glasgow: showman, travelling with the Cordonas (census) 
1902:    Cumbusland, Scotland: travelling show (birth of son Andrew)

1895:   Sheffield: traveller (marriage certificate)
1901:   Elland, Yorkshire: Ghost Show (census)
1902:   Settle, Yorks: “Wanted, a good Comedian and Dancer (voice no object) to Parade on Show. Good Shop. Randall Williams, Showman, Market Place, Settle, Yorks. (The Stage, 5 June 1902, p 17)
1902:   Manningham, Yorks: “Wanted, Suitable People for Outside Parade or Show. Good Knockabouts or Dancers or any class of Act which is likely to suit the Show business at Fairs. Those not afraid to make themselves useful. Apply, Randall Williams, Fairground, Manningham, Bradford” (The Stage, 31 July 1902)
1902:   Holbeck: “Wanted, Suitable People for Parade on Show. Good shop for suitable people. Any good Turn. Write – Randall Williams, Showman, Holbeck, Leeds (The Stage, 11 Sept 1902)
1903:   Cambridgeshire: “Wanted Good Dancers. Also Young Lady Fling Dancer or any suitable people for Parade or Show. Apply, Randall Williams, Showman, Wisbeck, Cambs. (The Stage, 12 March 1903)
1905:   Holbeck: traction engine driver (birth of son Thomas Randall)
1911:   Travelling showman, Caravan, The Green, Oldham, Lancashire (census)

1846:    Liverpool: July: hawker (birth of son Randall)
1846:   Warrington, Lancs, December:: “Thomas Williams, a showman proved that the prisoner Birchall offered the watch and guard chain to him for 12s” (Committal of Three Notorious Thieves: The Manchester Times & Gazette, 11 Dec 1846).
1861:    St. Helens, Lancashire: traveller with show (census)
1862:    Runcorn, Cheshire: photographic artist (birth of daughter Annie)
1868:    Manchester: showman "residing at Gorton" (marriage to Mary Ann Barker)
1870:    Dewsbury: travelling showman (marriage of Joseph and Louisa Williams)
1870:    Bradford, Yorkshire: traveller (marriage of Randall Williams and Mary Ann Hough)
1881:    Spittlegate, Lincoln: Thos's widow Mary Ann (Barker) was travelling a Mechanical Exhibition (census)

“To be Sold Cheap, Two First-class Waggons, The front one formerly belonged to Thomas Williams Mechanical Exhibition, opens thirty feet and is in first class repair . . . Apply early, to E. Williams, Market-place, Runcorn (The Era, June 10, 1877)

“To Showmen & Others – A sure fortune to an energetic person. To be Sold, the whole of the Exhibition knows as the late T. Williams Mechanical Exhibition comprising of Two Living Carriages, fitted up with every requisite: Luggage, Carriages, Sheltered Booth, Two Tilts and Inside Linings, Gas Fittings, Limelight Apparatus, Drums, Bell, Gong, Cymbals and Large Organ, Gallery Seats, Stages, etc. The beautiful carved Front opening to Forty-one Feet, is now complete, having been handsomely gilded and painted, also Panel Pictures and Top Paintings. The whole can be seen in full work. Application to be made to J. Whaite, 223, Deansgate, Manchester. N.V. To those who know this Exhibition it is now more superior than ever and would be a sure success as to a speculator. (The Era, July 9, 1881)

1884:  Settle, Yorkshire: shooting gallery proprietor (marriage of son James Williams)

1889:  Caravan, Market Street, Carnforth, Lancashire: travelling toy dealer (birth of son Henry)
1891:  Bishop Auckland: nut stall proprietor
1900:  Slaithwaite nr Huddersfield: Joe Williams’s fine art (The Era, 5 May 1900)
1901:  Manchester: traveller with Wakes

1884:   Settle: shooting gallery proprietor (marriage certificate)
1891:   Bishop Auckland: shooting gallery (census)
1901:   Radcliffe, Lancashire: shooting gallery (census)
1916:   stall holder at fairs (marriage certificate of son James)

1851:  Show at Beast Market, Wrexham Regis, Denbighshire: proprietor of mechanical exhibition (census)

1868:  Liverpool: commercial traveller (marriage certificate)

1871: Lancashire: “A Bargain to Showmen. To be Sold, a Mechanical Exhibition with Waggon. New Booth, tilt, etc. Music complete. Apply to Joseph Williams, Waxwork Exhibition. Route – Monday, Holborn-hill; Tuesday, Ulverston; Thursday, Broughton-in-Furness; Saturday week, Barrow-in-Furness (The Era, July 2, 1871)

1872: Market Square, Bolton, Lancashire: Williams' mechanical exhibition (The Guardian, May 29, 1872)

1873:  Colne, Lancashire: travelling show residing Snowden's Yard (birth of son Reuben)

1878:  Preston, Lancashire: Whitsuntide: “At the corner of the Orchard nearest the police station was once more stationed a sufficiently respectable exhibition of waxworks known as “Williams’s” (The Orchard and Market Place, The Preston Guardian, 15 June 1878)

1891:  St. Helens, Lancashire: waxwork’s exhibition (census)
1899:  Oldham, Lancashire: Mechanical exhibition (marriage of Reuben and Annie Williams)
1901:  Wakefield, Yorkshire: travelling showman (census)
1901:  Wakefield: travelling show proprietor (marriage of Victoria Williams and Ralph Layland).
1906:  Bramley, Leeds: caravan at roundabout on fairground (death of Alice Williams)
1911:  Caravan, Harpers Yard, Leeds, showman (census)
1913:  Hunslet: death of Joseph Williams, 65, travelling showman (certificate)

Note:  'Williams Mechanical Exhibition' attended the 'World's Fair', London, 1874, 1879 and 1881.

1911:  Caravan, Harpers Yard, Leeds, showman (census)
1921:  Fairground, Doncaster: travelling show (birth of son James Towers Williams)

1898: Brighouse Feast (The Era, Aug 20, 1898)
1898: Pudsey (The Era, Sept 3, 1898)
1898: Armley Feast, Leeds (The Era, Sept 10, 1898)
1898: Woodhouse Feast and Woodhouse Carr Feast (The Era, Oct 8, 1898)

1898: Christmas: Ordsall-lane fair: “the chief show attractions being one of the well-known concerns of the late Randall Williams’s “Living Pictures” (The Era, Dec 31, 1898)

1899: Oldham (marriage) occupation "cinematograph proprietor"

1899:  Oldham: January:  Reuben married Annie Williams (daughter of Randall Williams) at Oldham Register Office. Two weeks later, Annie met her sister Carrie in London and the two signed an agreement that Annie would take over their father's caravan and other effects (the smaller bioscope) at Pendlebury and that Carrie would take over the caravan and other effects (the main show) at the Agricultural Hall. Two months later at probate, Reuben and Dick Monte (Carrie's husband) became the co-administrators of Randall’s estate (as Annie and Carrie’s legal guardians). Both couples continued to travel their show under the name “Randall Williams” and this no doubt lead to some rivalry (Dick and Carrie began referring to their show either as Randall Williams’ No. 1 concern or as the “original” show). 

1899:  Hunslett, Leeds:  April:  Reuben and Annie appear to have been selling off portions of the show inherited from Randall: “To Showmen, van dwellers and others. Randall Kay Williams, Deceased. The administrators of the above Deceased are prepared to receive Tenders for a Van, now lying at the Store Rooms of Messrs. Nunn, situate on Anchor-road, Hunslet, Leeds, who will show the van upon application. Tenders to reach the undersigned not later than the 15 th inst. The Administrators do not bind themselves to accept the highest or any Tender. Rowcliffe & Co., 30, Cross-street, Manchester. Solicitors. (The Era, Apr 8, 1899)

1899:  May: Holbeck Spring Feast: Randall Williams II’s Vitascope (The Era, May 6, 1899) (Dick and Carrie Monte were at Lincoln May Fair with the Randall Williams No. 1 show)

1899:  August: Bowling Feast: “Young Randall Williams’s living pictures” (The Era, Aug 26, 1899)
1899:  August: “Maltram Wakes (old wakes ground) Reuben Williams’ Cinematograph (The Era, 26 Aug 1899)
1899:  September: Trafford-road, Manchester: "Randall Williams cinematograph" (The Era, Sept 16, 1899)
1900:  July: Skipton, Millfield Feast:  "R. Williams’s Cinematograph (The Era, July 14, 1900)
1901:  April: Bruntcliffe, West Riding Yorks: cinematograph proprietor (census)
1901:  Sowerby Bridge Rush Bearing Festival (Movie Makers and Picture Palaces).
1903:  Normanton Feast Ground (Wakefield) : travelling showman (birth of son Reuben)
1904:  Camp Road, Leeds: showman (birth of son Richard)

“Reuben was the operator of the 'Electro-Scope' projector, both at Islington and on the fairgrounds. Randall's other daughter Carrie married a Londoner named Richard Monte. After grandfather's death in 1898, Reuben carried on the fairground cinema show under the name 'Randall Williams', while Richard Monte acquired another one, which he toured as 'Williams' Bioscope Show’.. . Reuben's show [made] its last appearance at Hunslet Feast, where father acquired a Punch and Judy show.” (Paul Williams in an  interview with Geoff Mellors in 1984)

"This show was travelled by Reuben Williams in Yorkshire. Reuben was married to his cousin, Annie Williams, eldest daughter of Randall Williams, and they inherited his No. 2 Show when he died in 1898.  This travelled as their “American Marionette Show and Cinematograph Exhibition” for a few years around the turn of the century, being reported open at the Rush Bearing at Sowerby Bridge. Later they settled at Hunslet, although they still attended local feasts with a Punch and Judy show, using puppets made by Testos. The Punch & Judy Show was sold to Professor Codman, a bioscope operator and proprietor of the “New Empire American pictures” in Llandudno. The show still exists in Llandudno". (Scrivens & Smith, The Travelling Cinematograph Show)

"My father showed the pictures in the Hall in London [Agricultural Hall] with my grandfather, but what I have been told they had to be wound on a spool after they left the projector . . ” (Letter from Paul Williams: in The Beginning of Cinema in England: Vol. 2: pp 241-242).

1857:     Wigan: (The Preston Guardian, May 23, 1857)
1861:     St Helens Lancs: James Lewis: showman (census) (travelling with Thomas & Sarah Williams)
1871:     Bradford, Yorks: James Lewis: showman (census)
1876:     James Lewis: Traveller (showman) (marriage of Eliza Broom and George Lewis)
1876:     George Lewis, manager Mechanical Exhibition, Halton Street, Lower Broughton, Manchester.
1880:     Great Bolton: George Lewis showman (birth of James Lewis)
1881:     Farnworth, Lancashire: show caravans (census)
1891:     Liverpool: James Lewis: showman (census)
1901:     Hindley, Lancashire: Martha Lewis: show-woman (census)
1901:     Edinburgh: Charles Lewis, travelling showman (census)

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