Hundreds of travellers flock to 800-year-old horse fair as street races close down town and rubbish piles up

The Sun

20-05-2025

FLOCKS of travellers have descended on a quiet town for an 800-year-old horse fair - causing roads, shops and pubs to shut.
Pictures show the crowds swarming through the usually sleepy streets of Wickham, which only has a population of 2,000.
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Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes and pubs ready for trading in Hampshire.
Caravans and horse boxes are scattered around the town instead of cars, as all the roads were closed for the event.
Traveller families are believed to have started to gather for the Wickham Horse Fair since 1269.
Scenes at the yearly fair usually sees people flying down the street as they participate in street horse races.
Others parade ponies down the road in a bid to find a willing buyer.
Roads are packed with stalls and street vendors selling everything and anything.
It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday.
What is the Wickham Horse Fair?
Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in Wickham, Fareham, for almost 800 years.
As is tradition, this year's fair is being held on Monday, May 20.
It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday.
2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions.
However, an unauthorised gathering took place in 2021 – with people selling, racing and admiring ponies as well as enjoying a funfair.
It was back in full force for 2023 with spectacular traditional horse racing on display.
The horse fair has been taking place since 1269, which is almost 800 years ago - making it one of the oldest horse fairs in the country.
The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269.
Over the years this morphed into an annual fair.
The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269.
Over the years this morphed into an annual fair.
Some locals love the famous tradition, but others aren't so happy.
Already, piles of rubbish have started to form from the fair.
Over the last week, other villages have also played host to travellers looking to attend.
Last year, locals blasted the historic fair as "shameful" due to the litter left behind.
The high street was left caked in manure, bins overflowed with rubbish and cans of booze littered the pavements.
Pub benches were covered in trash, unwanted food and empty alcohol bottles.
Discarded cardboard boxes could also be seen pilled up while plastic bags were scattered along the picturesque roads.
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