Circus Royal, Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester

NOTICE—Wm. Batty Esq., Proprietor of the Circus Royal, Dublin, Cork, etc. begs to inform the inhabitants of Manchester and its vicinity that he has PURCHASED LAND and has COMMENCED BUILDING a STUPENDOUS CIRCUS, in Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, under the superintendence of his architect, Mr. Whittaker.—. Mr Batty intends opening the above place for performance in a short time, with the most talented Company and splendid Stud of Horses at present in Europe. WM. BATTY Esq. [Manchester Guardian 10 December 1836 page 1]

The Circus, a spacious building, erected by Mr. Whittaker, at immense expense, and which is roofed and platformed, contains a circle as large as that of the London Amphitheatre.  The situation is one of the best and most central in Manchester. The interior has been decorated with every attention to comfort and convenience in the most costly style, by first-rate London artists: and also closed in with a splendid painted ceiling. from which descend three elegant golden chandeliers, containing an immense number of brilliant gas jets. The decorations, which are on the most novel and expensive scale, designed and executed by Mr. Woodyer, (from the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, and Astley's Amphitheatre,) and a numerous train of assistants. 

Best Boxes, 3s.—Side Boxes, 2s.—Pit, 1s. 6d.—Gallery, 6d.; Half-price to the Pit and Boxes only at nine o' clock. Boxes 1s. 6d.—Side Boxes and Pit, 1s. Children under ten years of age to the Dress Boxes, Is. 6d.—Side Boxes, 1s.—Pit, 1s.— Doors to open at seven, and the performance to commence at half-past seven o'clock precisely. Tickets and places to be taken every day, at the Box-lobby, from eleven till four o'clock.
[Manchester Courier - Saturday 11 February 1837 page 2] 

CIRCUS ROYAL, BRIDGEWATER STREET - Mr. Batty opened this splendid new building on Monday last and has been honoured with a full attendance every evening during the week. The interior of the building is equally remarkable for its comfort and elegance. From the most distant seats a perfect view of the performances can be obtained; and the richness and beauty of the decorations exceed anything of the kind yet erected in this town. Mr. Whittaker, the architect, and Mr. Woodyear, the artist, have acquitted themselves in a masterly manner, and have together completed a place of public amusement that well deserves to become highly popular with the public. [Manchester Times - Saturday 18 February 1837 Page 2]

BURNING OF AN AMPHITHEATRE - On the night of the 26th ult., at about a quarter to twelve o'clock, a dreadful fire happened in the town of Manchester, which, in the course of an hour and a half; terminated in the total destruction of the amphitheatre belonging to Mr. Batty, situate in Great Bridgewater-street, and considerable damage to several premises that adjoined the building. It was erected about five years ago and was somewhat capacious, having in the centre a large circus, surrounded with an extensive pit, and one tier of boxes, capable of containing three thousand persons. By one o'clock the fire extended over the entire fabric, also the stables adjoining and the scene was awful in the extreme, several of the surrounding buildings being caught, namely, those belonging to Messrs. Brougham and Company, timber merchants, the factory of Royle and Crompton, and the Albion mills, The efforts of the firemen were wholly directed to their preservation, which was, in the course of a short time, accomplished; but the fire continued raging till aner four o'clock on Sunday morning. The theatre is totally consumed. All that remains of it are the outer walls, which are standing. Every means has been taken to discover the origin of the fire, but as yet no clue has been obtained. The loss sustained by Mr. Wells is between £200 and £300.This is the second amphitheatre that Mr. Batty has had burned down within the last five years. The former took place at Glasgow. He estimates his loss at £2,000, and, unfortunately, he is not insured. [The Observer 3 April 1842 page 3]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 December 1836 page 1
Reference    Manchester Courier - Saturday 11 February 1837 page 2
Reference    Manchester Times - Saturday 18 February 1837 Page 2
Reference    The Observer (London). 3 April 1842 page 3.