Travellers shut down entire town as they flock to 800-year-old horse fair

WICKHAM HORSE FAIR HAS BEEN HELD IN THE SQUARE IN WICKHAM, FAREHAM, FOR ALMOST 800 YEARS AND SEES HUNDREDS OF TRAVELLERS DESCEND ON THE VILLAGE TO BUY AND SELL HORSES 17:28, 20 May

2025Updated 17:29, 20 May 2025 Hundreds of travellers have descended on a sleepy village of just 2,000 people for its historic horse fair — causing roads, shops and pubs to close. Photos

show how the population of Wickham, Hants., has swelled after crowds flocked to the tiny hamlet for the annual event, which dates back 800 years. Horses of all breeds can be seen lining the

streets to be traded during the traditional traveller get-together. Families from as far away as Ireland and Wales are among those that have trekked to the village for the one-day event.

Glammed up young women and girls can also be seen among crowds that piled into the streets to watch horse races on the roads. Keith Ross, from Portsmouth, said he had been coming to the fair

for "yonks" and told a local paper: "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." Traveller Connie Hegarty, from Bristol, has attended the fair for the last 15 years and has sold six of his 10 horses by 1pm. He 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." All the

roads in the village were closed for the event, which has seen caravans and horse boxes take over the village. Instead, they are packed with stalls, fun fairs, food vans and horse owners

parading ponies down the road in a bid to find a willing buyer. Traveller families are believed to have started to gather for the Wickham Horse Fair since 1269 when Roger De Syres obtained a

royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market. And over the years, it morphed into an annual fair which still continues to this day and is held every year on May 20, unless that

falls on a Sunday. 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. Article continues below 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.' _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER BY CLICKING_ _HERE __._