By the early eighteenth century the trading aspects of the charter fairs had waned and most fairs consisted almost entirely of amusements, acrobats, illusionists and theatrical companies all plied their trade on fairgrounds. Around this time the first fairground rides began to appear, small crudely constructed out of wood and propelled by gangs of boys.
In 1868, Frederick Savage, a successful agricultural engineer from Kings Lynn, devised a method of driving rides by steam. His invention, a steam engine mounted in the centre of the ride was to transform the fairground industry. Freed from the limitations of muscle power, rides could be made larger, more capacious and more heavily ornamented. The showman’s demand for novelty was matched by the ingenuity of Savage and other engineers. In the wake of the steam revolution an amazing variety of new designs and rides appeared.
These rides were the forerunners of today’s amazing thrill rides, over time innovations such as electric lighting, electric motors, hydraulics etc. allowed rides to evolve into the amazing devices that are seen today at any local fairground
A Brief History Of The Travelling Funfair
Fairs in this country have a long and ancient history, deeply rooted in tradition. The word fair is derived from the Latin ‘feria’, meaning a holiday and at one time the Romans were credited with the introduction of fairs. It is generally accepted now that they have their origins in the pagan customs of the people who first settled this land, their seasonal gatherings held for the purposes of both trade and festivity, contained within them the essential elements of the fair.
The Romans did much to promote fairs by improving trade and communications throughout the country. During the centuries following the departure of the Romans, many fairs and other festivals were incorporated into the calendar of the growing Christian Church.
Charters granted by the sovereign gave the fair legal status and an increasing importance in the economic life of the nation. Merchants and traders from Europe, the middle east and beyond were drawn to the great chartered fairs of the Middle Ages bringing with them a wealth of goods. The sheer number of these fairs - no fewer than 4860 were chartered between the years 1200 and 1400 - drew not only merchant but entertainers as well: jugglers, musicians and tumblers - the ancestors of today’s showmen. The Black Death of 1348-49 brought about a new kind of fair. In order to stem the rise in wages caused by the shortage of workers, Edward III introduced the Statute of Labourers. This compelled all able bodied men to present themselves annually for hire at a stated wage. These gathering or hiring fairs were held mainly around Michealmas, the end of the agricultural year. More.....
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All private parties and wedding bookings are handled by our sister company Candy Floss Crazy who provide a specialist service for your special day. CLICK HERE
Corporate entertainment now forms such a large part of our business that we have created a mini site to handle enquiries. Corporate Funfair Hire
Let us help you with you charity or community event. We not only supply attractions, we can offer help with the planning and marketing. More....
Based in the Yorkshire and North East regions of the United Kingdom, we regularly supply attractions throughout the country. From university balls to private weddings we have an extensive range of rides, games and catering units.
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A fabulous range of funfair related products are available from our online shop. Ideal as gifts for someone special. Enter Our Shop
Victorian style events are fast gaining popularity. we have a range of authentic style attractions that will complement your market or Christmas event. More....
We have gained extensive experience in the planning and operating of attractions at our own events. We can now offer consultancy services for councils, theme park developers and shopping malls. More....
More and more university and college events are using our services to provide the entertainment for their students, contact us to see what we can offer your event. More....
Additional Services
We can source everything you need for an event. From the initial ground preparation through the supply and operation of the entertainment to the final clean up.
