Scarborough Fair Collection facts for kids
| Established | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Location | Lebberston, Scarborough, North Yorkshire |
| Type | fairground organs, mechanical organs and showman's engines |
| Public transit access | Scarborough railway station |
The Scarborough Fair Collection is a super cool museum in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. It's home to one of Europe's biggest collections of amazing fairground organs and powerful showman's engines. Imagine stepping back in time to a lively fair!
Contents
Discover the Scarborough Fair Collection
The Story Behind the Museum
The museum was started by Graham Atkinson. He was a local farmer who also owned a holiday park nearby. Graham loved fairgrounds and wanted to share his passion. He also wanted to entertain his holiday park guests. He began collecting these amazing machines in the late 1980s. The collection was sometimes open to visitors. Then, in 2008, it officially opened as a museum for everyone to enjoy.
What You'll See
The Scarborough Fair Collection has many different types of vehicles and machines. You can find vintage cars and even tiny model railways. But the main attractions are three special types of exhibits:
Powerful Steam Engines
You'll see incredible steam engines that once powered fairgrounds. These include four big showman's engines. One famous engine is called The Iron Maiden. There's also a Foden steam wagon and a Barrows and Co. portable engine. These machines are truly impressive!
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Exciting Fairground Rides
Get ready for some classic fun! The museum has several old fairground rides. You can see an 1893 gallopers ride, which is like a merry-go-round. There's also a rare 1928 caterpillar ride. Other rides include a 1933 'Noahs Ark', a waltzer, a cake walk, and dodgem cars. These rides bring back the magic of old-time fairs.
Amazing Mechanical Organs
One of the biggest highlights is the collection of mechanical organs. These are huge musical instruments that play by themselves! They were often used to provide music at fairgrounds. You can see the 97-key 'Oktoberfest' Gavioli Concert organ. There's also the 101-key Hooghuys 'Condor' dance organ. These organs create a fantastic, loud sound.
Theatre Organs and Music
The museum also has two special theatre organs. These are "Mighty" Wurlitzer organs. They have three manuals (keyboards) and eight ranks of pipes. These organs play during open days. They also play for weekly Wednesday afternoon tea dances. It's a great chance to hear these powerful instruments in action!
See also
- List of music museums
- Thursford Collection
