Joseph Peacock (1884-1916) was a clog dancer from Middlesbrough who danced with the Eight Lancashire Lads at the same time as Charlie Chaplin.
Joseph Peacock was born in 1884 in Middlesbrough – the oldest son of William and Mary Peacock. As a young boy he was a successful clog dancer and was clearly involved in several competitions. He is seen in the photograph on the right, aged about 10, posing in his dancing clogs and costume with his medals and latest trophy. He is accompanied by his uncle, Reuben Peacock, who was his coach and who lived next door. By November 1899, Joseph Peacock, aged 16 was performing in London as a clog dancer with The Eight Lancashire Lads. The Eight Lancashire Lads was a successful juvenile stage act which originated in Golborne, near Wigan in about 1896. It is not known whether this was Peacock’s first booking with The Eight Lancashire Lads or how the contact came about but it may have been when the troupe was performing in Middlesbrough. He was still with the troupe in 1901, however it is not known at this stage how long Peacock stayed with The Eight Lancashire Lads after that date. We known that by 1911 he was back in Middlesbrough working as an engineer’s labourer. Sadly, he was killed in action during WW1 in 1916.
