JOHN SANGER MEMORIAL

John Sanger Memorial, St John's Cemetery, Manston Road, Margate

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Overview

Memorial. Circa 1889, to John Sanger, circus proprietor, and also his wife and son. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1350382
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2003
List Entry Name:: JOHN SANGER MEMORIAL
Statutory Address:: John Sanger Memorial, St John's Cemetery, Manston Road, Margate

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1350382
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2003
Date of most recent amendment:: 26-Jan-2012
List Entry Name:: JOHN SANGER MEMORIAL
Statutory Address 1:: John Sanger Memorial, St John's Cemetery, Manston Road, Margate

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: John Sanger Memorial, St John's Cemetery, Manston Road, Margate

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Kent
District:: Thanet (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TR3518769213

Summary

Memorial. Circa 1889, to John Sanger, circus proprietor, and also his wife and son.

Reasons for Designation

The John Sanger Memorial in St John’s Cemetery, Margate is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Artistic interest: the memorial is of considerable artistic quality: it is a sentimental piece, composed and executed in a manner typical of the period's exuberance and visual vitality; * Historic interest: as an appropriate subject commemorating John Sanger, a famous Victorian showman who, along with his brother, ‘Lord’ George Sanger, is credited with elevating the British circus into a massed spectacle; * Group value: with a series of other memorials commemorating members of the Sanger family.

History

St John's Cemetery, Margate, was opened on the outskirts of the town in 1856. The cemetery is a typical example of a picturesque Victorian funereal landscape, which provides the setting for many grand funerary monuments, used increasingly in the C19 as a means of asserting family affection and showing respect for the dead.

The burials in St John's Cemetery date from 1856 to the present day and illustrate many aspects of Margate's role as a health resort and holiday destination, and as a coastal community comprising all levels of society. The impact of significant cultural and social shifts and major world events over the last 150 years are also reflected in a number of the memorials in the cemetery. The original part of the cemetery was 10 acres; the site now extends to 35, and remains open for new burials.

John Sanger (1816-1889) was a member of a noted family of C19 circus proprietors. John and his brother ‘Lord’ George Sanger (1827-1911) were the sons of James Sanger (d.1850) who had served on HMS Victory at Trafalgar and afterwards became a showman. The brothers were largely responsible for the elevation of the British circus into a massed spectacle, partly in response to competition from American touring companies. Following semi-permanent ‘exhibitions’ in Liverpool and Plymouth, in 1871 they purchased the renowned Astley’s Amphitheatre on Westminster Bridge Road, London entering the world of the London theatre. The brother’s partnership ended in 1884, each continuing with separate touring companies. John Sanger died at Ipswich while on tour. His will gave his wife Elizabeth (1825-1892) the right to carry on his business, taken on subsequently by his son, John. A daughter, Lavinia, was an equestrian performer. John Sanger's entry in the Dictionary of National Biography specifically mentions his memorial, 'a costly white marble monument, part of which represents an mourning horse'.

There is some dispute about whether John ever adopted the honorific ‘Lord’ like his brother George (following a legal battle with ‘The Honourable’ William Frederick ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody over George Sanger’s version of the ‘Wild West’ show), or whether it was only later adopted by his son, John jnr.

Details

Marble sculpture of a life-size marble mourning horse with drapery and bowed head. It stands on a tall pedimented marble plinth, decorated in relief with equestrian emblems such as a horseshoe and crossed whips, entwined with roses and poppies. The base of the plinth has the name 'SANGER' in bold relief. There is an inscription to John Sanger and a poem on the front panel. The rear is plainer, without the emblems at the top, and the raised panel bears an inscription to John Sanger's wife Elizabeth (d.1892) and son William Frederick (d.1893). The sculptor of the memorial is not known.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 489951
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Coleman, G S, Lukens, J, The Sanger story: Being George Sanger Coleman's story of his life with his grandfather, ‘Lord’ George Sanger , (1956)
Websites
Sanger, John (1818/20-1889), circus proprietor, accessed from http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24658?docPos=4

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.