Bridgwater Horse Fair Draws Its Biggest Turnout in Years — a community report by John

A lively morning on St Matthews Field saw Travellers and non‑Travellers bringing horses, trading goods, and filling the market stalls, as Somerset Council joined the annual fair with support and advice for fairgoers

The annual Bridgwater Fair run by the Showmen’s Guild took place last week, it always commences on the last Wednesday in September and on that day the GRT community hold their Horse Fair and market on St Matthews Field.

I arrived around 9:15am and the market stalls had set up, with fair visitors already looking, also many were already on the area reserved for horse trading, with dealers offering the usual goods associated with a horse fair, harness, churns, birds and bird cages etc. It was a warm day with the temperature reaching 22°.

The Horse Fair had the largest turn out of both Travellers and non-Travelers bringing their horses to the fair that I have seen for many years, and there seemed to be plenty of deals taking place.

Judging by the amount of goods being carried round it seems the market stalls had also benefited from the very large turnout of fair visitors. Somerset Council were in attendance with advice, free smoke & Carbon monoxide detectors for the community, and they would even check your blood pressure for you (mine was OK).

I think it is fair to say that everyone attending enjoyed the fair. And possibly later moved on to look at the funfair and West Street Market that are there till Saturday.

By John for Travellers Times

(Words and photographs © John)