Fascinating Victorian photographs of Britain’s most popular fairs and freak shows illustrate the incredible history of the UK’s commonly celebrated pastime.
The collection of pictures show hundreds of British men and women flock to busy fairs up and down the country.
One photograph in the fascinating set shows hundreds of people enjoying the Amusement Park at Wembley, north west London, in the early 1900, where a Daily Mail stall was present.
Another image shows bears with their mouths trapped with muzzles as a source of entertainment during the Victorian period.
The Amusement Park at Wembley, north west London, was packed with people during the British Empire Exhibition between 1901 and 1910. A Jack & Jill and Daily Mail stall could be seen in the distance
A performing bear was paraded on the cobbled streets to publicise a local fair as children watched on as it walked past them
Children posed for the camera as they enjoyed a pedal-powered ride in 1904 and the image is one of a collection of pictures of Britain’s fairs
So-called ‘freaks’ were always popular, such as this tall man and ‘wonder midgets’ and they would typically feature in British fairs and shows
In 1905, performers took to the stage for an Anderton & Rowland’s show and the image gives an insight into the shows people enjoyed more than 100 years ago
Men and women smiled for the camera as they enjoyed a trip to the fair after the First World War during the 1920s
Men and women enjoyed a trip to the Kursaal Gardens in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1909 and took it in turns to go on the dodgems
Meanwhile, another photograph illustrates the advertisement for an Edwardian freak show with a picture of ‘Beautiful Minnie’.
Further pictures portray the way a Skymaster ride in a 1950s fair was built from aircraft drop tanks and a searchlight trailer after the Second World War.
And a different image reveals the way some people were learning to fly on a 1920s aeroplane ride following the First World War.
The engaging photographs are part of a book titled Frost Fairs To Funfairs by travelling showman, Allan Ford and author, Nick Corble. It has been published by Amberley Publishing.
An extract from the book read: ‘One of the marks of civilisation is the desire for people to come together, to gather and share and to be part of each other’s lives.
‘In the past, such occasions may have been sparked by a need to worship together, or to celebrate a saint’s day, or may have been driven by wanting to share a significant moment in the agricultural or astrological calendar, such as spring fertility rites, the autumn harvest or a summer solstice.
‘During these markets booths, tents and wooden stands would be erected in the forum, offering attractions and distractions beyond purely functional needs.’
A Skymaster ride (pictured) was made out of aircraft drop tanks and a searchlight trailer shortly after the Second World War
The November Sheep Fair in Stamford, Lincolnshire, saw hundreds of sheep line the streets in the late 1800s (pictured)
Freak shows (one pictured here in 1924) were still popular with crowds, although these freaks were mainly pictures rather than the ‘real’ thing
Hundreds of people swarmed St Giles in Oxford during the annual fair in the early 1900s to watch the performance
In 2017, people gathered on the same streets for the more modernised fair which boasted huge neon signs and lights
Using four legs rather than two to transport shows became increasingly necessary to transport shows in Lincoln
One man was in charge of roasting an ox at the mop fair in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and is also part of the fascinating collection of images
In the mid-16th century, freak shows became increasingly common pastimes in England. It was a, now controversial, show dedicated to showcasing people with deformities or uncommon diseases in a bid to objectify them.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, freak shows became established in England and the US, where they became successful commercially run events.
Another extract from the book read: ‘In larger fairs there would also be a few ‘headline’ attractions, which were usually shows. These shows might offer the opportunity to see something out of the ordinary, be it a ‘freak’ (real or manufactured) or simply someone from a different culture, such as the ‘Red Indian’ noted by Wordsworth at the 1815 Bartholomew Fair.
‘Also popular were performing animals, which ranged from small insect or bird menageries to the elephant seen at the 1813/14 Thames Frost Fair, although this was well out of the norm. Bear-baiting and cockfighting were also regular attractions.
‘A particular favourite during the early part of the nineteenth century was Toby the Sapient Pig, who was said to be able to ‘spell and read, cast accounts, play at cards, tell a person what o’clock it is to the minute and tell the age of anyone in company’, among other gifts.’
Frost Fairs To Funfairs was published on November 15, 2017, and is available here: https://www.amberley-books.com/frost-fairs-to-funfairs.html