Roll up, roll up, for a piece of circus history

You can watch Natalie Gray's film about the Hippodrome here.

There's been a circus in Great Yarmouth since July 20th 1903 - and the crowds still come.

The building may look the same but the acts have certainly changed.

115 years ago Baby Tilley - the only girl lion tamer in the world was top of the bill with her 12 Forest bred lions.

In those days of course circuses were one of the few places you'd see exotic animals .

Anglia Television filmed at the Hippodrome in the 1970s when animal acts were still all the rage.

"Most people think of the circus as a tent or a big top but that was an American invention . The British invented circus in 1868 and Great Yarmouth Hippodrome is the only surviving example of a purpose built circus building built for circus."

These days there aren't any an animals as what was so acceptable is now so unacceptable.

Sixties rock star Peter Jay has run the Hippodrome for nearly 40 years.

He was drummer and leader of the band The Jay Walkers.

His youngest son Jack is the host - in the old days he'd have been the ringmaster.

The Hippodrome can flood the ring with 70,000 gallons of water to put on different displays.

In bygone days horses swam through the water - there were even crocodiles - and the audience dived for sixpences.