William Batty (performer)

William Batty (1801–1868) was an equestrian performer, circus proprietor, and longtime operator of Astley's Amphitheatre in London.

In the ensuing years, Batty's circus travelled throughout the United Kingdom; in 1838, he was at Newcastle and Edinburgh and, in 1840, at Portsmouth and Southampton.

When Astley's Amphitheatre suffered its third fire, Batty was in Dublin, and boarded the next steamer to London to arrange for its rebuilding in Westminster Street.

[2][3] While managing Astley's in the autumn of 1850, Batty acquired land in Kensington Gardens, London, to begin construction of an open-air arena for theatrical and equestrian events.

Batty chose the site, which covered a large area at the end of the Broad Walk (now occupied by DeVere Gardens), to attract visitors to the Crystal Palace Exhibition, five minutes away.

Architect George Ledwell Taylor designed the structure, which the firm Haward and Nixon constructed of iron and wood.