A History of Fairground Transport from Horses to Artics

Softback

Travelling fairs hold a special place
in English history and traditions. Once
or twice a year local towns and
villages are overwhelmed with a
cacophony of sounds, sights and smells,
bringing magic and excitement into
peoples’ lives before, all too quickly,
moving on. The transient nature of
travelling fairs is part of their
magic, and an integral part of that
magic is the transport that carries the
people and the rides. More than just
vehicles however, fairground transport
is often an integral part of the show,
acting as homes for the showmen, a way
of generating power and even converting
into parts of the rides themselves. In
short, they are part of the way of
life. This book looks at the history of
the travelling fair through its
transport, beginning with how it has
evolved from what a performer could
carry on their back and simple horse-
drawn caravans, through to steam-
powered traction engines and war
surplus petrol and electric vehicles,
finally bringing the story up to date
with today’s mega lorries and cranes. –

• 96 pages
• Softback book
• 165mm x 235mm