A personal account of time at the Horse Fair

The Horse Fair in Bridge Street looking east. At one time, it was one of the larger horse fairs in the country. Boys with barrows collected the horse dung for sale. The Wheatsheaf became the post office in 1972 and a private house in 2010 when the post office moved to the middle room of the Town Hall. The three semi-circular windows in the first floor of was the HSBC bank (in 2014) and Patrick Strainge butchers have been altered at some point to look like their neighbouring upstairs windows.

Percy Hughes butcher's shop next to the Horse Shoe before it was rebuilt

Horse fair with these animals at the south end of Church View. Notice that the ladies also came out to see the horses making it a spectacle and event for all to enjoy.

Horses on Church Green. Men with white flags kept the horses under control. A strip of white rag was tied on the tail of a horse when it was sold. In later years, a white sticker was stuck to their rumps. Note the temporary railing in front of Church Gate house. Ladies and children stayed safe in the churchyard while they watched proceedings.

img215 Cadet Flight Sergeant Frederick Gerring retired at 21 July 5th 1972

Rose Gerring's family in the garden of Prospect House

Card from Reg Pratley, Jubilee Inn

Airmail letter to Mrs Townsend from B Howse in New Zealand

Work by three artist was exhibited in the Gallery in October 2002Terry Wigley - photographerGilly Whittington - potterChristopher Townsend -sculptor/artist