‘Wickham Welgora has got back its mojo' – Wickham Fair 2026

The Wickham Horse Fair, often known within the Romany and Traveller community as the Welgora, is one of the oldest and most significant horse fairs in the country. Held annually on the 20th of May in Wickham, the fair dates back to 1269, when Henry III granted the village the right to hold a market and fair. For centuries, Romany and Traveller families have gathered there to trade horses, meet relatives and friends, celebrate culture, and continue traditions passed through generations.

Historically, the fair would see beautifully painted vardos and horse-drawn wagons arriving into the square at midday, with horses paraded through the village streets. Over time, Wickham became not only a place of trade, but a cultural gathering point deeply rooted in Romany life and heritage. Today, although modern life has changed much around it, the spirit of the fair remains horses, family, friendship, storytelling, and community.

Alan Langford delighted in the atmosphere and spirit of the day, sketching horses throughout the fair and gifting his artwork to members of the community. Knowing Alan personally, it is always a pleasure to watch him work so effortlessly, often surrounded by people waiting patiently for one of his quick-draw sketches. His generosity and connection to the travelling community shine through wherever he goes.

Also in attendance with her family was writer and author of Scarlett Redemption, Freedom Matthews, who first attended the fair in her teens with her father, Mick Matthews, a much-loved character within the fair community.

Freedom’s Story

Since I was 15 years old, the 20th of May at Wickham Horse Fair has been the highlight of my year. Back in the day, we used it as an extension of my dad’s birthday. Now, with Dad passed, it’s something we do in his honour and to celebrate his life. My brothers, my nephews, and I take the day to see family, greet friends, and watch the horses being flashed, and until I can no longer attend, it will always be this way.

Always filling the same spot across from the closed pub, in front of the burger van, right where the deals are made and the “action” takes place, is where we make camp. It’s a place my dad claimed years ago so anyone wanting to find him, including us, could. Now, those who wish to find us know exactly where to come.

This year we took my youngest nephew for the first time. It was a proud moment for him and for all of us, and it felt like another great honour. We showed him the ropes, familiarising him with the surroundings and where the horses go up and down. My dad had always wanted to bring him along, just as he had my oldest nephew, but it was never to be.

So, it felt long overdue.

As we walked the fair, we shared old memories, drawing Dad back from the other side, even if only through words. It always sprinkles bittersweet emotions across the day. We miss him terribly, but love that he is still with us in the ways he would have been in life.

Seeing familiar faces, each a year older, is both a comfort and a reminder that we are all getting on a bit. Family stop to chat, people we may only see once a year catch up and share news and future plans. Above all, we discuss the main priority of the day, the horses. The popular breeds, the colours, the movement, the way they step.

A highlight is seeing my cousins, family, and friends. It feels as though we only spoke yesterday rather than twelve months ago. That, to me, is what real family is.

To some, gathering so many people together in one place may seem a thing of the past, but to our culture it is, and always will be, a hive of activity, trade, connection, and tradition. Recorded almost 800 years ago, it is a fair our ancestors visited, and we continue that journey today. There is something triumphant in knowing we are walking the same paths our forefathers and foremothers once trod. After Stow Fair and before Appleby Horse Fair, it sits perfectly in the calendar for horse traders and attendees alike.

It is deeply important to keep these fairs attended for the generations to come, preserving not only the horses and traditions, but the sense of family, identity, history, and belonging that lives within them.

As we head home, slipping through the packed crowds, voices rising in conversation, singing, and cheers, we arrive back at the van tired but deeply content. And already, I cannot wait for next year’s fair.

By Dee Cooper and Freedom Matthews, with words from Alan Langford, reporting for Traveller Times.

(Lead photograph © Ciaran Matthews)