Westmorland Gazette – Saturday 17 April 1824
CIS:S.4230-2009
Ballooning, or aeronautics, were immensely popular and dangerous exhibitions beginning in the 18th century. I mention some of the ballooning that appeared at popular venues in my book, Masquerade Balls in Regency Britain, but much of the focus related to masquerades. This site in Manchester was independently popular for a series of balloon ascents, including the fifth ascent by the first English Aeronaut, James Sadler, in 1785 (Sky Dragons, Heroes & Cats: The Extraordinary English Aeronaut of Balloon Street – Manchester’s Finest).
While the article of the hoax seems to imply the hoax was the source of inspiration for the name Balloon Street, but a raft of contemporary articles point to Sadler’s ascent as the impetus. However, it was clearly named Balloon Street before the infamous hoax, so I think the article is just poorly worded in that bit.
In any case, it shows the enduring popularity of spectacles like balloon ascensions well through the long Regency.
Learn more:
How a baker, balloon and cat gave a Manchester street its name
https://library.si.edu/exhibition/fantastic-worlds/age-of-the-aeronaut
Regency Pastimes: The Great Parachute Experiment of 1802
Regency Science and Invention: Flight
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