Was The Circus In Town?

Have just stumbled across this photograph, taken around 1885-1890, in Birmingham's oldest inn, The Old Crown. The bar staff look really splendid, but why are the 2 (presumably) customers dressed up as they are? Am also intrigued as to what cost tuppence a cup. Tea, coffee, or hot toddy.

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2d for Cocoa (snap Chimp), that looks like a samovar next to the waitress - for tea presumably.

 

Well spotted. That was my test for the day.

 

I'm intrigued... I keep looking back to this photo, and wondering why the two might've been dressed like that.

Everyone has been called to the bar to be included in the photo... the harder I look, the more shadowy faces I find.

 

Are they actors, perhaps, or some kind of in-house entertainment?

 

I've tried looking in the papers to see if there was any hint of something taking place there which would be newsworthy. Bit like a needle in a haystack, but I wonder if it could be something along the lines of the Grand Gala and Fete held by the Ancient Order of Foresters, reported in Aris's Birmingham Gazette (British Newspaper Archives) of 3rd July 1869? The procession was to start from the Old Crown Inn and included -



As the Inn was such a landmark, I suspect a lot of such events set off or ended there.

I do love the chap sitting down (could he be the landlord) - look at that clay pipe he's smoking

 

If it is the landlord, then possibly Harry Read (the publican on the 1891 census RG12/2403/35/12)