Was the pub large enough to host entertainment?....
Loose ends...
The Pub
I managed to visit the pub when it was fairly quiet. The ground floor bar is original, as it was in 1850 I'd say when the place was possibly built. The bar is central with spaces around it for tables and drinkers, however there is a 1st floor function room where they still have music occasionally, this is a large open space. There was one photo of a horse drawn dray on the wall delivering beer to the pub dated 1883. I thought Edward had gone by then but looking carefully at Pubwiki I can see this is not necessarily the case. He might have been there in 1883, looking out of the window. Spooky eh? There were people sitting directly under the picture and I couldn't scrutinise it, I'll have to go back. I wonder who the cameraman was? The idea that he might have still been there in 1883 is supported by an article from the Sporting Life, 13th January 1885 that another helpful person sent me regarding the "Parkholme Musical Club" which met in the pub, presumably in the function room. The description of this "smoking concert" is very detailed. About half way down it says "Mr E. B. Crichton concluded the first part by singing "What will you do, love?" The name of the company that owns the pub and the landlord's email address were publicly displayed so I emailed him and asked him to have a look at this thread. The lyrics to this old song are available on line. As far as I can see it is long out of copyright. Here's the first verse -
What will you do, love, when I am going,
With white sails flowing, the seas beyond?
What will you do, love, when waves divide us,
And friends may chide us for being fond?
Tho' waves divide us, and friends be chiding,
In faith abiding, I'll still be true;
And I'll pray for thee on the stormy ocean,
With deep devotion-that's what I'll do.
Very moving. That's what I call a love song. Maybe he was thinking about his own past travels.
Books
"A History Of The Circus" by George Speaight is not available as an ebook and I'd have to buy it as a hardback. There's no point in this case because judging from the look of it and the blurb it deals with historical and cultural issues, tracing the development of the circus in some detail over the ages. I don't think it would mention a contortionist/publican from Hackney.
Grave
The idea of looking at his grave is a good one. Fanque seems to have been a big deal in the Victorian circus world and if Edward Crichton was Edwin Edwards he seems to have been a bit player, I don't know that his "Clown" years would be remembered in this way, but you never know. Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington isn't too far so I'll go and look.
