Frost Fairs to Funfairs

Tracking the development of the English Fair, Allan Ford and Nick Corble capture the diversity, sounds, smells and sensations that have beguiled the Great British public for centuries – from the days of charter fairs through to modern winter wonderlands and theme parks.

A nostalgic journey through the history of one of our most endearing and popular pastimes, Frost Fairs to Funfairs is a fascinating look behind the curtain of this ancient and enduring tradition, encompassing the many attractions that make up a fair, as well as the showmans’ way of life, and how the ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ nature of the fair seems to bring with it fresh rules, transforming otherwise monochrome lives into a kaleidoscope of colour, even if only for a short while.

This lavishly illustrated volume evokes all the excitement and fervour of the fair coming to town while at the same time demonstrating how the fair is not only an integral part of English culture, but at the same time almost an expression of it.