Centre seeking memorabilia for exhibition on fair story

Now Carnegie Heritage Centre, a stone’s throw from the fairground, is appealing for people’s reminiscences, photographs and memorabilia of the fair ahead of an exhibition on September 9 and 10.

Chicken Joe, a regular at the Fair, had a stall next to Bob Carvers and a spin of a wheel could win you a chicken – at a premium in the war years – or groceries.

There was always a queue to see Gipsy Rose, who rented a room in a house off Walton Street for the Fair.

Historian Sheila Coates said: “People round here lost a lot of people at sea and when you haven’t got a body to bury you get spiritualism and fortune-telling and it is part and parcel of that mentality. She was supposed to be exceptionally good.”

The changing of the calendar in 1751 led locals to believe they had lost 11 fair days and they went on the rampage chanting “Give us back our fair”. Their wish was granted and from then on the fair, now Europe’s largest, has been held on 11 October or the Friday nearest to it.

The exhibition will pay particular reference to the past 100 years or so.

The centre is on 01482 561216 or email [email protected].