Some residents living in a sleepy Hampshire village claim they have taken to locking their doors and shutting their blinds on the same day every year when a notorious traveller festival descends on their tiny community.
For generations, the Wickham Horse Fair has taken place in the village which has a population of just over 2000 people.
The fair takes place every year and is an opportunity for the travelling community to sell and trade horses and meet up with family and friends.
However in recent years it has been met with criticism due to the treatment of the horses who race down the streets – with some having to be put down following the event.
It began when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in Wickham’s town square in the 13th century and is now held ‘every year’ on May 20, unless that date falls on a Sunday.
However residents say the revelry brings their neighbourhood to a standstill every year.
Like clockwork, the day before the festival, roads, shops and pubs are all closed in preparation for the event and quiet streets are swarmed by animals, horse boxes and caravans.
Fun fairs, burger vans and other stalls also set up shop to cash in on the historic day that has been celebrated ‘every year’ with no signs of stopping.
Every year hundreds of travellers descend on a sleepy Hampshire village to sell horses
For generations, the Wickham Horse Fair has taken place in the village which has a population of just over 2000 people
Though it started as a weekly market, it soon became the annual fair we see today
The fair takes place every year and is an opportunity for the travelling community to sell and trade horses and meet up with family and friends (2024’s event)
Residents say the revelry brings their neighbourhood to a standstill every year (2024’s event)
Earlier this week, surrounding villages flagged that travellers looking to attend the fair had already arrived and set up make shift camps on public land
Photos showed at least 21 caravans on Greta Park in Hedge End, around six miles from where the historic event will take place
It’s not just isolated to Wickham either.
Earlier this week, surrounding villages flagged that travellers looking to attend the fair had already arrived and set up make shift camps on public land.
At least 21 caravans arrived at Greta Park in Hedge End, around six miles from where the historic event will take place.
A council worker alleged that four padlocks were broken in order for the group to gain access to the park area.
Police swiftly moved them on but more have arrived in the surrounding area since.
When MailOnline visited the sleepy idyll earlier this week the central square was a hub of activity ahead of the two day shut down.
Traditionally the local butchers has been one of the only shops to remain open, serving hot snacks to the thronging crowds, however even they say they will close this year.
Manager Ben said: ‘We’re not opening this year no. We just don’t have the staff and it isn’t really worth the effort. We would if we could, there hasn’t been trouble for years.’
The few shops that do remain open make a roaring trade’ selling cans of lager and hot food to the crowd, however none of the three village pubs are brave enough to open their doors.
Newly opened Woody’s is situated at the heart of the fair circuit.
On the day of the fair, dozens of ponies are tied up on a fence around the pub’s outdoor seating area before they are sold.
Manager Nicola Lang revealed: ‘Ít is what it is.. It’s an old tradition that comes with the territory of the area.
‘The police advise us to close, for safety. They aren’t able to be here if anything was to happen. We’re missing out on a Monday and Tuesday this year so it softens the blow.
If we were to miss the weekend it would be considerably more, the police and the council don’t compensate us.
‘But it would be silly to open.’
Newly opened Woody’s is situated at the heart of the fair circuit and manager Nicola says disruption comes with the territory
Residential homes and the pubs dining area are boxed off for the event
Eric Ryan recently moved into a property close to the fair and loves it
Eric Ryan recently moved into a property close to Woody’s in the heart of the action.
On fair days, he has to move his car and if he is to leave his house will have to navigate dozens of horses and traders.
But he told the MailOnline he loved the event.
‘It’s been here for hundreds of years!’, ‘he said, We normally go away for it, prior to that we’ve been in the thick of it.
‘But I enjoy watching it, yes I have to move my car, but that’s fine. Yes you occasionally get a few unsavoury characters turning up, but that’s by the by.
‘They’ve always been good to me!’
Others in the village are less positive however.
Rob Owen told us he dreaded the event.
‘Í don’t like it and I don’t go. I just stay in and shut my doors and windows. I seal in for it. They shut down everything.
‘It’s getting smaller thankfully, we just avoid it, it’s not something I want to be involved in. People have things go missing afterwards apparently but who knows if that’s connected.
‘Anyway places are closed for a reason.’
The publican of the nearby Square Fox also expressed frustration that police seemed uninterested in helping them trade during the festival.
‘It’s not supported by the police, if there’s a problem we’re by themselves. They police the beer tent, but not us.
‘Í have been tempted to try and do a service from the door, but I’m not allowed.
‘We lose turnover definitely.’
The Wickham Horse Fair falls on May 20 every year, unless that date falls on a Sunday
Crowds of travellers have descended on Wickham, Hampshire, for a traditional horse fair dating back to 1269
Sadly, in the past some of the horses at the event have had to be put down (A man in an RSPCA jacket is seen overlooking Wickham 2024’s event)
Traditionally, the launch of the event is met with a number of horses being raced down the streets of Wickham while others are paraded through the town, including small ponies.
There will also be more officers on the ground to engage with visitors and respond to any issues which may arise.
Aside from horses, visitors at the event this year often sell clothes, bedding and cleaning products.
Sadly, in the past some of the horses at the event have had to be put down,
Members of the RSPCA have often been seen amongst the crowds.
In 2020 and 2021, the event was banned due as lockdown was imposed on the country.
However, in the latter of those years, up to 150 people were understood to have turned up, in a move slammed by police and angry business owners.
The agreed plan had been to hold a small, symbolic event involving ‘one or two horses’ to maintain the tradition of the festival.
