Grave of circus owner who inspired Beatles lyrics listed

THE grave of the Victorian circus owner who inspired a song by The Beatles has been relisted to mark Black History Month.

Historic England has created two Grade II new listings – including the grave of a liberated slave and the bust of a renowned playwright – and has added three amendments to existing listings to mark the contributions of black people to history and contemporary society.

The heritage body has also made amendments to celebrate William “Pablo Fanque” Darby one of the most successful circus impresarios in Victorian England and the first black circus owner in Britain. His skill with horses was renowned throughout Victorian society, and he had an early appreciation of the power of advertising.

It was one of his adverts that inspired John Lennon to write the 1967 Beatles song ‘Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite!’, a song which featured on their 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

That same year, Lennon wandered into an antique shop in Kent where he bought a framed Victorian circus poster from the 1840s. The poster announced Pablo Fanque’s Circus Royal and it provided inspiration for The Beatles’ lyrics.