Appleby Horse Fair facts for kids

Caravans, including horse-drawn Vardoes at the Fair

Live performers at Appleby Horse Fair in 2012

Washing the horses at Appleby Horse Fair

Horses wading in the river Eden.

The Appleby Horse Fair, also known as Appleby New Fair, is a huge yearly gathering. It brings together Gypsies and Travellers in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland in Cumbria, England.

This special horse fair happens every year in early June. About 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers attend. They bring around 1,000 caravans and many horse-drawn vehicles. About 30,000 visitors also come to see the fair.

People from many different Traveller groups attend. These include Romanichal, Irish Travellers, Kale (Welsh Roma), and Scottish Romani and Traveller Groups. It's a chance for them to meet, trade, and celebrate their culture.

What is the Appleby Horse Fair?

The Appleby Horse Fair is known as the biggest traditional Gypsy Fair in Europe. Many people see it as a very large family get-together. It's a time for trading horses and catching up with friends and relatives.

A big part of the fair involves horses. Horses are washed in the River Eden. They are also shown off by trotting quickly up and down a special road called the 'flashing lane'.

There is also a market at the fair. You can find traditional goods from the Gypsy travelling community there. Many horse-related products are also sold.

Where and When Did the Fair Start?

The fair takes place just outside the town of Appleby. It's held where an old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road. This area is near Gallows Hill, which got its name because public punishments used to happen there.

For a long time, people thought the fair began with a special permission from King James II of England in 1685. However, new research shows this isn't true. That old permission was never actually used.

Appleby used to have a different fair in the Middle Ages. That fair ended in 1885. The 'New Fair' started in 1775. It was held on Gallows Hill, which was open land outside the town. It was a place for people to sell sheep, cattle, and horses. By the 1900s, it had become a major event for Gypsies and Travellers.

No one group has ever owned the fair or charged people to attend. This is a key part of the fair's spirit. It is meant to be a fair for everyone. The fair's legal right to exist comes from a long tradition, not from a special document.

Has the Fair Ever Been Cancelled?

The Appleby Horse Fair has been officially cancelled two times.

• In 2001, it was cancelled because of a serious animal disease called foot-and-mouth.
• In 2020, it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even when cancelled, some Travellers still came. In 2020, a small group attended. This was because of a belief that the fair would be lost forever if it didn't happen at all. In 2021, the fair was moved to August because of Covid-19 rules.

How is the Fair Organized?

The Appleby Horse Fair is a regular event, but it's not planned by one single group. It's more of a spontaneous gathering. However, the Gypsies and Travellers have a leader called a Shera Rom. This person helps manage Fair Hill, which is the main camping area.

The Shera Rom arranges things like toilets, rubbish bins, and water for Fair Hill. They also help with horse grazing. This leader works with local authorities to make sure the fair runs smoothly. The Shera Rom is the head of their own family, but they also speak for the wider Romani community.

Other landowners in the area also set up campsites and car parks. They arrange their own facilities for visitors.

Main Activities at the Fair

The main activities happen in a few key places:

• Fair Hill: This is the main camping area. You can also find some food and shops here.
• Market Field: This area was opened about 10 years ago. It's now the main place for stalls selling goods and food.
• The 'Flashing Lane': This is Long Marton Road. Horses are shown off here by trotting up and down very fast. This is where most horse trading happens.
• The Sands: This area is near Appleby town centre, by the River Eden. Many horses are taken into the river here to be washed. It's common to see many horses tied up nearby. The road here is closed to cars during the main days of the fair.

The main days for the fair are usually Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The fair traditionally ends on the second Wednesday in June. However, the busiest day is now Saturday. Most of the fair's activities are finished by Monday morning.

Besides horses, you can find many other things at the fair. There are fortune tellers, musicians, and stalls selling clothes. You can also buy tools, china, and horse-related items like harnesses and carriages.

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