Astley's Amphitheatre

Philip Astley (1742–1814) was the son of a cabinetmaker and trained to be one. But he loved horses, joined the army, and became an expert rider. Eventually, he turned his love of riding into a business, building a series of ever grander theaters, complete with riding rings and stages large enough for epic reenactments of battles. This version of Astley’s theater makes an appearance in Jane Austen’s Emma, where a visit to the show helped cement the engagement of two of the novel’s subsidiary characters.