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Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Hundreds of travellers arrive with their horses as Wickham Horse Fair begins in quiet Hampshire village
Hundreds of travellers have arrived in a quiet Hampshire village with their horses for an annual horse fair which dates back 800 years. The community has descended on the sleepy village of Wickham, which has a population of just over 2,000 people, once more in a tradition that has lasted for generations. Dozens of horses are lined up in the streets ready for trading and selling on a day which is an opportunity for the travelling community to meet up with family and friends. It began when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in Wickham's town square in the 13th century, and is now held every year on May 20, unless that date falls on a Sunday. It brings the small village to a standstill as roads, shops and pubs all close for the day to allow the fair to take place. Horse boxes, caravans and animals all arrive along with their owners, alongside fun fairs, food vans and various stalls. Dozens of the animals are typically tied up to local fences and outside closed pubs ready for trading. Some small piles of litter were pictured in the village early on Monday. Dozens of horses are lined up in the streets ready for trading and selling on a day which is an opportunity for the travelling community to meet up with family and friends Road closures are in place throughout the village, including Fareham Road and The Square. They are expected to reopen by 10am on Wednesday. During the day, horses and ponies are seen pulling carts up and down the village streets, with adults and children alike joining in the fun. The fair is so popular that for the last week surrounding villages have played host to travellers looking to attend the fair, who had already arrived and set up make shift camps on public land. At least 21 caravans arrived at Greta Park in Hedge End, around six miles from where the historic event will take place. A council worker alleged that four padlocks were broken in order for the group to gain access to the park area. Police swiftly moved them on but more have arrived in the surrounding area since. When MailOnline visited the sleepy idyll earlier this week the central square was a hub of activity ahead of the two day shut down. Traditionally the local butchers has been one of the only shops to remain open, serving hot snacks to the thronging crowds, however even they say they will close this year. Manager Ben said: 'We're not opening this year no. We just don't have the staff and it isn't really worth the effort. We would if we could, there hasn't been trouble for years.' Traditionally, the launch of the event is met with a number of horses being raced down the streets of Wickham while others are paraded through the town, including small ponies. Sadly, in the past some of the horses at the event have had to be put down. There will also be police officers on the ground to engage with visitors and respond to any issues which may arise.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Every year hundreds of travellers tie up their horses outside my house to sell them - I can't move my car but I LOVE it!
Some residents living in a sleepy Hampshire village claim they have taken to locking their doors and shutting their blinds on the same day every year when a notorious traveller festival descends on their tiny community. For generations, the Wickham Horse Fair has taken place in the village which has a population of just over 2000 people. The fair takes place every year and is an opportunity for the travelling community to sell and trade horses and meet up with family and friends. However in recent years it has been met with criticism due to the treatment of the horses who race down the streets - with some having to be put down following the event. It began when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in Wickham's town square in the 13th century and is now held 'every year' on May 20, unless that date falls on a Sunday. However residents say the revelry brings their neighbourhood to a standstill every year. Like clockwork, the day before the festival, roads, shops and pubs are all closed in preparation for the event and quiet streets are swarmed by animals, horse boxes and caravans. Fun fairs, burger vans and other stalls also set up shop to cash in on the historic day that has been celebrated 'every year' with no signs of stopping. It's not just isolated to Wickham either. Earlier this week, surrounding villages flagged that travellers looking to attend the fair had already arrived and set up make shift camps on public land. What is the Wickham Horse Fair Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in the Hampshire town's square since 1269. Members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities gather to trade horses, as well as meeting family and friends. It was first devised as a weekly fair after Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III before it evolved into the annual event it is now. It is held every year on May 20, unless that falls on a Sunday. 2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions blocking it in 2020 and 2021. However, a gathering still took place in 2021 as up to 150 people were understood to have turned up to buy, sell and admire ponies and horses. At least 21 caravans arrived at Greta Park in Hedge End, around six miles from where the historic event will take place. A council worker alleged that four padlocks were broken in order for the group to gain access to the park area. Police swiftly moved them on but more have arrived in the surrounding area since. When MailOnline visited the sleepy idyll earlier this week the central square was a hub of activity ahead of the two day shut down. Traditionally the local butchers has been one of the only shops to remain open, serving hot snacks to the thronging crowds, however even they say they will close this year. Manager Ben said: 'We're not opening this year no. We just don't have the staff and it isn't really worth the effort. We would if we could, there hasn't been trouble for years.' The few shops that do remain open make a roaring trade' selling cans of lager and hot food to the crowd, however none of the three village pubs are brave enough to open their doors. Newly opened Woody's is situated at the heart of the fair circuit. On the day of the fair, dozens of ponies are tied up on a fence around the pub's outdoor seating area before they are sold. Manager Nicola Lang revealed: 'Ít is what it is.. It's an old tradition that comes with the territory of the area. 'The police advise us to close, for safety. They aren't able to be here if anything was to happen. We're missing out on a Monday and Tuesday this year so it softens the blow. If we were to miss the weekend it would be considerably more, the police and the council don't compensate us. 'But it would be silly to open.' Eric Ryan recently moved into a property close to Woody's in the heart of the action. On fair days, he has to move his car and if he is to leave his house will have to navigate dozens of horses and traders. But he told the MailOnline he loved the event. 'It's been here for hundreds of years!', 'he said, We normally go away for it, prior to that we've been in the thick of it. 'But I enjoy watching it, yes I have to move my car, but that's fine. Yes you occasionally get a few unsavoury characters turning up, but that's by the by. 'They've always been good to me!' Others in the village are less positive however. Rob Owen told us he dreaded the event. 'Í don't like it and I don't go. I just stay in and shut my doors and windows. I seal in for it. They shut down everything. 'It's getting smaller thankfully, we just avoid it, it's not something I want to be involved in. People have things go missing afterwards apparently but who knows if that's connected. 'Anyway places are closed for a reason.' The publican of the nearby Square Fox also expressed frustration that police seemed uninterested in helping them trade during the festival. 'It's not supported by the police, if there's a problem we're by themselves. They police the beer tent, but not us. 'Í have been tempted to try and do a service from the door, but I'm not allowed. 'We lose turnover definitely.' Traditionally, the launch of the event is met with a number of horses being raced down the streets of Wickham while others are paraded through the town, including small ponies. There will also be more officers on the ground to engage with visitors and respond to any issues which may arise. Aside from horses, visitors at the event this year often sell clothes, bedding and cleaning products. Sadly, in the past some of the horses at the event have had to be put down, Members of the RSPCA have often been seen amongst the crowds. In 2020 and 2021, the event was banned due as lockdown was imposed on the country. However, in the latter of those years, up to 150 people were understood to have turned up, in a move slammed by police and angry business owners. The agreed plan had been to hold a small, symbolic event involving 'one or two horses' to maintain the tradition of the festival.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Travellers start arriving in Hampshire village for Wickham Horse Fair as event that dates back 750 years is set to start next week
Dozens of travellers have descended on an idyllic Hampshire village for a horse fair dating back more than 750 years. Caravans have started arriving on a field near Wickham for the annual Wickham Horse Fair next week, which is one of the oldest of its kind in the UK. Photos show at least 21 caravans on Greta Park in Hedge End, around six miles from where the historic event will take place. A council worker alleged that four padlocks were broken in order for the group to gain access to the park area. The Wickham Horse Fair takes place every year and is an opportunity for the travelling community to sell and trade horses and meet up with family and friends. It began when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in Wickham's town square in the 13th century. The horse fair is now held 'every year' on May 20, unless that date falls on a Sunday. That includes in 2021, when around 150 people descended on Wickham despite the event being cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Wickham Horse Fair takes place every year and is an opportunity for the travelling community to sell and trade horses and meet up with family and friends Roads, shops and pubs will close in preparation for next week's event. Fun fairs, burger vans and other stalls will also be set up shop to cash in on the historic day. Last year, the launch of the event was met with a number of horses being raced down the streets of Wickham while others were paraded through the town. Sadly, some of the animals taken to the event had to be put down on the day amid the furore. Members of the RSPCA were seen amongst the crowds. More police officers were brought in on the ground to manage attendees and any other issues that arose. What is the Wickham Horse Fair Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in the Hampshire town's square since 1269. Members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities gather to trade horses, as well as meeting family and friends. It was first devised as a weekly fair after Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III before it evolved into the annual event it is now. It is held every year on May 20, unless that falls on a Sunday. 2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions blocking it in 2020 and 2021. However, a gathering still took place in 2021 as up to 150 people were understood to have turned up to buy, sell and admire ponies and horses.
