Horse Fair - ponies tied up on Church Green were considered by the vendors to be suitable for pit ponies and the Welsh miners knew to come to this part of Bampton to buy their pit ponies. Here, the ladies and children are inside the church wall away from the horses but able to watch the proceedings. It was an event much enjoyed by all and the ladies and children have got their best hats on.
Nik Stanbridge
Horses in Bridge Street outside the Horse Shoe
Horses in Bridge Street outside the Horse Shoe
Nik Stanbridge
Horse Fair on Church Green in the rain
Horse Fair on Church Green in the rain. Horses sold on the green were considered suitable to be pit ponies and the Welsh miners knew to come to this part of Bampton for the pit ponies. The Plain tree just right of centre is now a huge tree (2014).
Nik Stanbridge
Horse Fair, ponies on Church Green sold for pit ponies.
Horse Fair, ponies on Church Green sold for pit ponies. By Bourton Cottages
Nik Stanbridge
Newspaper August 29th 1930. Report on Fair with Horse Fair
Newspaper August 29th 1930. Report on Fair with Horse Fair
Nik Stanbridge
img368 J Clark butcher, Horse Shoe, Horse Fair
Scene of the horse fair in Bridge Street outside the Horse Shoe Inn and the butchers shop run by J Clark. It must have been taken well before 1925 because the Horse Shoe was gutted by fire that year and in 1925 it was owned by Percy Hughes who also had the butchers shop with his name over the door and on the east side of the building. Hurdles placed over the ground floor windows were to stop the horses from sticking their heads through the windows. Horses with a white spot on their rumps have been sold.
Nik Stanbridge
Horse Fair outside the Talbot. Carts outside Thompsons, the high class grocers
Horse Fair outside the Talbot. Carts outside Thompsons, the high class grocers
Nik Stanbridge
Horses outside Churchgate House, for sale as pit ponies
Horses outside Church Gate House, for sale as pit ponies
Nik Stanbridge
Horse Fair outside Horse Shoe pre 1925
Photograph of the Horse Fair looking west down Bridge Street. Percy Hughes was the licensee and he also had the butcher's shop next to the Horse Shoe inn. There was a devastating fire at the inn in 1925 and the building was gutted and rebuilt in its present position. Note the window protection of hurdles to stop the horses putting their heads through the glass. White discs on the horses' rumps show they have been sold. There is a large group of horses tethered outside the high wall that faces Church View. Note the car outside the butchers shop.
Nik Stanbridge