howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
started arriving yesterday morning, only operates from wednesday to saturday.
all rides £.1 except for the dodgems £.1. 50.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
At least the Dover Fair is still going,
not like in 1847:
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Various troubles at Dover Fair brought about its closure in 1847...
Pick-Pocket at Fair: "A person who states his name to be Thomas RICHARDSON, of Northiam Sussex, was on Wednesday fully committed for trial at the next Dover Sessions for picking the pocket of Elizabeth REEVES in Dover Fair. (Kentish Gazette Nov 30 1821 back page col.3)
Theft at Dover Fair:
Henry JONES aged 20 at Dover General Sessions was convicted of stealing during Dover Fair - sentenced to 7 years' transportation (Dover Telegraph 3 Jan 1835 p.8 col.4)
Traders at Dover Fair "not free":
Joseph KNOCKER, one of several proprietors of shops in Dover, being hired out to people "not free" to sell goods etc., purporting to be connected with the Dover Fair. To take Counsel's Opinion decided, "rents received by them at the said fair to be paid to the Corporation". Not to attempt the same for the future.
(Dover Corporation Minutes 15 Nov 1742, Kent Co.Archives)
Toys at Dover Fair: Thomas SQUIER of the sign of the Rocking Horse, 23 Snargate Street, Dover (toy seller) has acquired "very large assortment of British and Foreign Toys etc" for sale at the Dover Fair (Cinque Ports Herald, 20 Nov 1825 p.1 col.4)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Whenever the fair arrives at Pencester I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of pounds it sucks out of the local economy.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Let's not be too downhearted Peter with matters of passing amusement and the economy locally, but you may have a point in that this is a bit more than, "swings and roundabouts".
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
All rides £1 dodgems £1.50? they were £3 a go at times in Deal last week!!
Audere est facere.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i cannot see how they make money out of 3 days at rock bottom prices.
with high fuel costs between venues plus all the setting up and dismantling.
Hi Peter, I was interested by your post , what factors mean that money is taken out of the local economy by the arrival of the fair ? This is a genuine question as I cant see how this happens , mind you I havnt considered this before either . If the fair was in addition to an established local buisness I could see how money that would have been spent in that buisness could be taken by the travelling fair , but Dover dosnt have a funfair, or is it that people are put off coming inot the town by the fair ? thanks in advance
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
I'm not sure but feel that Peter is saying the money made from the fair stays with the fair as the travellers move on from town to town without them pumping any of it back into the local shops therefore leaving the kids and parents bereft of of their disposable income that would normally have been spent in Dover,sweet shops ice creams coffees etc.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Spot on Marek. And spot the multiple top of the range Mercedes and huge American trailer caravans owned by the operators.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Thanks Marek and Peter I thouht that might be what you meant
Im put off by the trouble that seems to stem from there every time its down , and the huge groups of teenagers being the usual polite selfs lol .With a little family i much prefer Dymchurch for the amusement parks .
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Agreed Melissa, the hoodie brigade frightens off more affluent punters and local businesses suffer as a result. Then there's the competition for parking spaces.......
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Still stick the fact if i ever behaved like that as a young girl i wouldnt of seen outside for many years.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
all systems go for the fair in glorious august weather
.
there has been talk of operating a "noddy" type bus alon the promenade and pier, how about this one?.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Lovely pictures again Howard, very colourful...luvit! When daughter BB was younger than she is now, she loved all that. Ride after ride....Gawd Wimmin! lol!!..she knew how to empty my pockets even then!!
Kids love the colour, the lights, the smell. Remember the days when they used to have real candyfloss, not the ready made stuff in the plastic bags.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Ah! candy floss on a stick and all round the face, also the childish amazement at how it got on that stick from the whirling drum.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
I think the fairs have moved on since the post war years when flashing coloured lights,loud music and the chance of catching a young girls eye was an opportunity not to be missed. Escapism in its rawity. To be spun around,go up and down or ride on the dodgems was exciting. Nowadays with computer games,satellite tv etc kids find their amusement elsewhere. This coupled with the sophisication and more daring rides at Legoland ,Alton Towers and Eurodisney have all contributed to the demise of the fun of the fair.
Funnily enough the fair has just reached these shores and will stay for the 2 weeks covering the Battle of Flowers parade. Apparently at any one time during the season there are 200 different fairs each week circulating the towns,cities and villages of the UK.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
Wow howard your getting some great pictures, love the one with the clowns in the background
LOL!!! now there's a bike for you PaulB.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks jan.
didn't know that about the candy floss, assumed that it was still made on the spot.
i think there is still a place for the travelling fair in spite of all the new theme parks, as evidenced by the expensive vehicles with personalised number plates and state of the art caravans.
