Thea Holme's 'Chelsea' contains the following in her description of the entertainments offered at this time in what were then the Cremorne Gardens, Chelsea, under the proprietorship of Thomas Bartlett Simpson. These had included many daring balloon flights.

In 1852 the Proprietor of Cremorne was served with three summonses brought by the R.S.P.C.A. He had that season introduced a 'sensational novelty' invented by a French couple, M. and Mme Poitevin. From The Observer of September 5, 1852, we learn that 'the Balloon being fully inflated, a Knight in gilt armour dashed into the arena, driving a profusely ornamented....chariot'. The knight, presumably, was Monsieur Poitevin, and by his side was Madame. 'She wore,' said The Observer, 'a wreath of roses and a scarlet tunic, and looked decidedly classical', as was fitting for the part of Europa. Her lover, Zeus in the shape of a bull, now made his appearance. 'The poor beast, who was not of gigantic proportions, was muffled in a scarlet robe, and a pair of gilt horns completed his decoration.' The scarlet robe, alas, was worn to conceal an elaborate arrangement of canvas strappings by which he was to be supported in the air, attached to the balloon by 'sundry stout cords, disguised as garlands'.
The bull was blindfolded, M. Poitevin stepped into the basket, and Madame vaulted gracefully on to the side-saddle placed upon the bull's back, kissing her hands in acknowledgement of the plaudits of the crowd.
As the balloon ascended it was noticed that at first the bull stretched his legs out stiffly as if trying to reach the ground; but 'when his diminishing size had made him resemble one of the inmates of a Noah's Ark,' said the reporter, 'he began to kick violently.'
Some five hours later, Madame Poitevin reappeared - a heroine, perhaps: for who would choose to sail across London, side-saddle on a kicking bull, dressed only in a scarlet tunic and a wreath of roses? She had landed in Ilford, where, we are told, 'ox and lady were most kindly received, and the bull hospitably taken by the horns to a comfortable stable.'

It has to be said that this description does raise many questions once, or if, the brain can be re-engaged (who was that Bart Simpson...) but surely at the very least Chelsea and Ilford ought to be starting to prepare for the 150th anniversary of this event.

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Chelsea