Travellers descend on tiny village for historic 750-year-old Wickham Horse Fair

The Wickham Horse Fair in Hampshire has been held since 1269 and sees Gypsy and Roma travellers from all over the country come together to run, display and trade their horses

A small Hampshire village has been swamped with thousands of revellers for a 750-year-old traveller fair. The history of the annual Wickham Horse Fair stretches back to the thirteenth century when, in 1269, Roger de Scures received a royal charter from King Henry III to hold a market in the area.

It brings together scores of Gypsy and Roma travellers from across the country to run, showcase and trade their horses on the streets of Wickham. Photos depict horses and ponies being ridden and trotted through Wickham Square – which is closed from 12pm on 19 May until 10am on 21 May.

Local resident Mike Taylor, 71, likened the event to a “carnival atmosphere.” He said: “Weather dependent today there were thousands of people. Not just travellers.

“They get a bad press, but I have to say whenever I’ve been down there it’s really friendly, it’s great. It was more of a fair/carnival atmosphere – all good.

“Some of the horses look really beautiful – with big manes flowing People come from miles for it.”

Photos show revellers riding horses through the small village in Hampshire. Some younger riders were seen riding without saddles.

Equine enthusiasts from Ireland and Wales travel every year for the history far. Attendees show off their prized animals in the hopes of attracting offers from other revellers.

There is also a social element to the gathering. Last year, Connie Hegarty, who has attended the fair for over a decade, told the Daily Echo: “It is somewhere to go to sell horses and meet people.

“I have met a lot of people I know here from over the years and we trade between ourselves. I’ve been having a good time.”

Similarly, Keith Ross said he had been coming to the fair for “yonks” and told a local paper last year: “The most proper traditions you are going to see in your life in this country, to me there is nothing better. They all look after each other here. Fair people.”