200 Years Ago in Norwich : Madame Tussaud Visits Great Yarmouth

And another in my series of posts from articles and adverts in the Norwich Mercury from 200 years ago this week, this advert was placed in the newspaper in the first week of May 1825.

“MADAME TUSSAUD, ARTIST,

Has the honour most respectfully to announce to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Yarmouth and its vicinity, that by the kind liberality of the Worshipful the Mayor, she will have the honour to Exhibit her Collection as above announced, where she hopes to meet with that acknowledgement which Yarmouth is known to afford to Exhibitions of merit.

The Collection consists of TWO MAGNIFICENT CORONATION GROUPS, one representing the AUGUST CORONATION of his MAJESTY GEORGE IV.; the other the CORONATION of BONAPARTE; the whole got up at an immense expense, and such as have never failed of giving general satisfaction, having been viewed in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and Bath, by 136,000 Persons.

There will be a PROMENADE every Evening from Seven till Ten, accompanied by a MILITARY BAND.

ADMITTANCE ONE SHILLING. SUBSCRIBERS’ TICKETS FIVE SHILLINGS EACH. OPEN EVERY DAY From Eleven till Four, and from Six in the EVENING till Ten.”

Marie Tussaud (1761-1850) has been unable to return to France as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, so she spent most of her time in England. She started a touring exhibition in 1824, which is the one that reached Great Yarmouth, and in 1833 she eventually settled on a permanent location in Baker Street in London. The growth of the galleries meant that new premises were needed in 1884, where Madame Tussauds is still located today. This must have been quite a sight to behold for the lucky denizens of Great Yarmouth.