A vintage fairground experience at Carters Steam Fair
Carters steam fair.
[AD] If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you’ll know I am something of a theme park fan. Heading out to a theme park to ride roller coasters is a great way to spend a day. When it comes to fairgrounds though, I am generally not as keen. In recent years, typical fairground rides have become more extreme and intense than I am comfortable with, so I tend not to visit as much. So, when Carters Steam Fair comes to town, it’s something that is far more tailored to suit my enjoyment levels. Here are my thoughts on the vintage fairground experience of Carters Steam Fair, which comes to my hometown of Reading twice a year.
Disclaimer: I was a gifted ride passes when I visited Carters Steam Fair in Reading, however all views, opinions and photos of the experience are my own.
A little bit of a background information
Carters Steam Fair is thought to be the largest travelling vintage fairground in the world. Family owned (by the Carter family, if you hadn’t guessed) the fair started its life in the mid 1970’s. The family purchased their first ride – the Steam Gallopers. At the time the ride was in a fairly dilapidated state, and the family meticulously restored the ride in its traditional style before taking it out on the road. Thinking it would be more profitable to tour with a couple of rides, John Carter also purchased the Chair-o-Plane ride. More rides followed, while the fair expanded over the years. All rides, vehicles and stalls seen on the fair are hand painted using traditional methods to create how they would have originally looked. This gives the fair a very authentic feel.
Jubilee Steam Gallopers – Carters Steam Fair’s first ride
Vintage fairground rides of Carters Steam Fair
From April through to October, Carters Steam Fair tours the south of England on their highly decorated fleet of lorries. Traditionally the fair visits Reading twice a year, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to go along and soak up the atmosphere, ride some of the vintage rides and eat some candy floss.
We visited twice during Easter Week. The first time on a Monday where the fair was open until 8pm. The second time on the Saturday, where closing time was at 10pm. There was also a fireworks display at 9pm, once darkness fell. Arriving at a vintage fairground at dusk is the best experience. The buzz of the crowd. The hundreds of twinkling light bulbs. The hiss and smells of the steam engines. The screams of joy and fear from the riders. The sweet smells of candy floss. All of these things create the perfect atmosphere for a balmy spring evening (thanks to the Easter 2019 heatwave). We wandered through the fair, checking out the rides and stalls available. For a fairly small space, there was so much crammed in.
Wood carved horses of the Jubilee Steam Gallopers
Vintage fairground rides and attractions
As you would expect from a vintage fairground, there are a collection of rides and attractions to suit everyone. Whether it’s thrills for the older kids, tame rides for the toddlers or the ‘test your strength’ attractions for the testosterone filled teenagers trying to show off their brute strength (usually unsuccessfully), Carters has a little bit of everything. For me, I was looking for some thrills, without too much spinning. Here’s a sample of the attractions on offer.
The Jubilee Steam Gallopers
The lights and artworks of the Jubilee Steam Gallopers
The first ride purchased by the Carters and centre piece of the fairground, the Jubilee Steam Gallopers was originally constructed in 1895. Having been repaired and renovated over the years, it’s a much loved ride, which can be clearly seen by the intricate details on the paintwork of the ride. All the horses are the carved of woods and of the same design, but decorated individually.
Fun fact: The Gallopers is not a carousel, as you may have assumed. A carousel is an American ride where the ride turns in an anti-clockwise direction, whereas the Steam Gallopers turn in a clockwise direction.
Hand painted horses of the Jubilee Steam Gallopers
The Excelsior Steam Yachts
Excelsior Steam Yachts at dusk
The pair of Steam Yachts owned by the Carters is one of only three that have survived since the start of the 20th century. Built in 1921, this ride is a swing ride where the Yachts swing to an almost vertical position, powered by Yorky – a 1901 Savage steam engine. It’s definitely not for the faint hearted or for people with motion sickness. Where today’s equivalent Pirate Ship style ride will have some kind of restraints, instructions when riding the Steam Yachts are to wrap your arms around the back bars of the bench and hold tight! The ride is beautifully decorated and one of my favourites at the fair.
The Yorky steam engine which powers the Steam Yachts
The Paramount Chair-o-Plane
Spinning on the Paramount Chair-o-Plane
The Chair-o-Plane is a traditional chair swing ride, and the second ride in the Carters portfolio. It started touring in the 1980 season along with the Gallopers. This history of the ride is vague, although it is thought to have been built in Germany in the 1920’s. It was then shipped across to a British showman. The ride decoration and details we see today were painstakingly painted by Anna Carter when the family purchased the ride. It may not be as thrilling as many rides we see at modern theme parks and fairs today, but it’s a really enjoyable ride for all the family.
Beautiful paintwork and lighting on the Paramount Chair-o-Plane
The Carters Park Swings
The Carters Park Swings – a traditional swing boat ride
Popular in Britain in the 1800’s and the early 1900’s, these traditional swing boat rides were always a staple attraction in a vintage fairground. The boats seat two people who sit opposite each other and use ropes to power the swinging motion. They may not be the most thrilling attraction in the fair, but have always been part of line up. The original boats were rotten and a new set was created using the original designs, to try and keep them as authentic as possible.
Hand painted swing boats
Other rides and attractions
As well as all of the Carters owned attractions, there are usually some guest attractions on the line up. Some of those include a Ghost Train , Hurricane Jets (where you have a pedal to power the Jet up and down as you spin) and a Whirl-A-Round Twist ride. This is sometimes known as a Scrambler, a high speed spinning ride where the cars rotate on separate arms, whizzing past each other at high speed.
Ghost Train – The scare of the fair
A ride on the Hurricane Jets
Take a spin on the Whirl-A-Round Twist
If rides are not your thing, then there are plenty of stalls to try your hand at winning some prizes. You can have a go at Hook-a-Duck or a range of shooting games if you feel the need for another soft toy at home.
Hook-a-Duck stall at Carters Steam Fair
Shooting Range stall at Carters Steam Fair
The transport vehicles and living wagons are also on display around the fair. As with the rides and attractions, these are all beautifully renovated and shouldn’t be missed.
A transport vehicle at Carters Steam Fair
There’s no better way to end your night out at fairground than with an epic fireworks display. Carters Steam Fair at Reading ended their Saturday night with a great display which impressed quite a large crowd that had gathered in Prospect Park.
All you need to know
Carters Steam Fair tours from April through to October, you can find the latest dates and locations here . The fair runs a token system for rides where you can buy in advance online or at the fair. Where ride tokens are purchased in advance online, extra free rides are offered. The bigger the ride token bundle – the more free rides!
As previously mentioned, as well as being touring vintage fairground operators the Carter family are effectively a team of artists. Their talents and craftsmanship can clearly be seen by the level of artistic detail on their rides and attractions. The current fairground owner Joby Carter runs intensive signwriting courses. These cover all aspects of traditional signwriting including layout, design, brushwork and shading.
Over my twenty-ish years living in Reading I have often visited Carters Steam Fair when they come to town. It’s a fun evening out, and for someone like me with an interest in art and creativity, it’s wonderful to see the artwork on display. The fair is well organised and well run and if it’s coming to town near you, why not pop along.
Want to see my thoughts on the more modern theme parks? Take a look at my posts covering Alton Towers and Europa Park .
Have you visited Carters Steam Fair or any other vintage fairground?
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Steam Collection
Hollycombe - razzle dazzle, hollycombe steam collection.
The Hollycombe Steam Collection is a collection of steam-powered vehicles, rides and attractions based near Liphook in Hampshire. The collection includes fairground rides, a display farm and two railways. The collection dates back to the late 1940s when Commander John Baldock decided to preserve some of the steam traction engines that were rapidly disappearing from British life. By the early 1960s he had acquired a significant collection of road vehicles and started to collect fairground rides. In the late '60s he extended his interests again into preserving railway equipment. The collection was eventually opened to the public and became a major Hampshire tourist attraction. At length the collection grew so large it became impossible for one person to maintain, and by 1984 Baldock decided he would have to close the operation. A Society was formed by volunteers to operate the collection. This was successful and the collection continued to expand.
The Edwardian Fairground is a complete steam fair comprising rides originating from the 1870s and later. The rides include a Tidman 3 abreast Golden Gallopers roundabout, a single Steam Yacht a Razzle Dazzle being a grand aerial novelty ride with a rotating and tilting movement. S Fields Steam Circus was built between 1868 and 1872[citation needed] and is the oldest surviving mechanically propelled fairground device. The fairground also has a set of Steam Swings, a Set of Walker Chair o planes, a big wheel and a Bioscope Show which is an early travelling cinema. The rides are constructed mainly from wood and, where appropriate, are powered by steam engines. There are rides for all ages and the atmosphere is completed with a number of fairground organs and a range of sidestalls.
Current ride and attraction list: - Steam Yacht (The only steam yacht in the UK, Built in 1911) - Razzle Dazzle (The ever first ride with 2 movements that are tilting and rotating, built in 1906 by Howcroft Carriage & Wagon Works ) - Gallopers (3-abreast Steam Gallopers, Built 1912 by Tidman of Norwich) - Mr Field's Steam Circus (Built in the late 1870s, it the world's oldest surviving mechanically driven fairground ride) - Steam Swings (The ride consists of six boats driven by an overhead line shaft from a 1901 Brown & May portable engine) - Big Wheel (50 ft high and built by Hayes Fabrications) - Steam Chair O Planes (Once a set of gallopers, destroyed in the war. Now a set of chairs o planes built in 1910 by Walker's) - BioScope (The Bioscope is typical of the travelling shows which brought the very first films to the public) - Haunted House (Built by Orton & Spooner around 1915, the Haunted House) (Out of service 2015-2016) - Austin Car ride (Built by Supercar in 1948) - Juvenile Roundabout (Built by Orton & Spooner in 1930 and spent its working life at Chessington Zoo in Surrey until purchased by Hollycombe in 1985) - Children's Swing Boats (Built in 1990) - Juvenile Chair O Planes.
The farm includes a wide range of vintage steam-powered farm equipment including: ploughing engines, a threshing machine, a baler, and a stationary steam engine driving small machinery through a line shaft. The sawmill is used to cut much of the wood used on site and is powered by a large semi-portable Robey Steam Engine. Close by is the engine from the paddle steamer Caledonia. The whole range of machinery required to prepare feed stuffs for animals on a large farm is represented in the farm buildings. Driven by line-shafting, power is from a Robinson horizontal steam engine, built at Rochdale in Lancashire over 100 years ago and used to drive the well pump at Basing House for many years.
In a hollow at the lower end of the Lime Walk is a stone building adjoining a large overtype waterwheel. Inside is a beam engine, a type central to the development of steam power and the Industrial Revolution. This engine dates from around 1850 and has been restored to working order, in a setting similar to that in which it is thought to have worked when new. It was used by a large farm in the North-East of England where it was employed to drive a fixed threshing machine in a barn, along with other mills and equipment by means of a line shaft and belts. There are stories that the engine took over the task of driving a threshing machine from an older waterwheel, after augmenting it initially. The beam engine has been restored and is provided with low pressure steam from an adjacent egg-ended boiler, and is demonstrated regularly on open Sundays. The waterwheel came to Hollycombe from a farm in nearby Bramshott, prior to which it worked in Cornwall.
Marine engines are among some of the largest steam engines ever built. The one at Hollycombe is from the paddle steamer Caledonia, a former London, Midland & Scottish Railway excursion vessel built for service on the Clyde. During the war, she served as an anti-aircraft ship, HMS Goatfell, and was crediteed with at least two enemy aircraft in the D-Day operations. Caledonia and her engine were built by Denny Bros. of Dumbarton, and launched in 1934. The engine is a triple expansion diagonal, with a low pressure cylinder of over 4ft diameter. Indicated horsepower was 1,750. She was retired to the Thames in London in 1972 and was used by Bass Charrington as a floating restaurant until a disastrous fire in 1980 after which she was scrapped. Luckily the engine and ancillary equipment were saved and rebuilt at Hollycombe.
Traction engines and steam tractors were employed on the roads to move goods from place to place. All types of loads were carried from light goods to heavy haulage. Usually goods would be loaded onto one or more four wheeled trailers which would be attached behind an engine. For particularly heavy loads, two or more engines would be connected behind each other to provide additional power, sometimes with another engine behind the load to provide extra braking.
Hollycombe has two steam rollers: a Wallis & Steevens Simplicity roller Christopher of 1932 and David, an Aveling & Porter 10 ton roller built in 1921. Steam Rollers are one of the best-known road engines. They would travel between jobs towing a living van for the crew to stay while away working on road building and repairs. Christopher is a Wallis & Steevens Simplicity roller, No. 8023 of 1932. It has an unusual design with a sloping boiler to ensure the firebox remains covered with water at all times. Only 15 of these light, three ton engines were built, intended for use on sports grounds, private roads and drives. Six survive with only a few in serviceable condition, Hollycombe's being one. David is a typical steam roller of its age and has been working on Hollycombe's roads and driveways since 1961. It was built in 1921 and worked for Islington Borough Council until 1955.
The narrow gauge Quarry Railway, is a 2 foot gauge steam railway running for approximately 1.5 miles through woodland and fields. The journey starts at the station by the visitor centre, and travels through pretty woodland until it reaches the old sandstone quarry. After a pause to take in the spectacular views across the Sussex Weald, the journey continues through woodland and alongside fields, where horses often graze. The railway has two steam and one diesel locomotives. Even the passenger carriages are historic, coming from the long closed Ramsgate Electric Tunnel Railway. One of the carriages has a wheelchair compartment, and a ramp is available at the station.
The miniature steam Garden Railway is always popular with visitors. Although originally aimed at the children, it seems that the adults find it just as attractive! The railway is a continuous loop of about one third of a mile and the tracks are set at 7.25 inch gauge. You will be amazed by the power of the tiny locomotives as they haul both adults and children around the scenic route. The station is located beyond the end of the fairground, near the sawmill. Trains pass between the fairground and the Woodland Gardens, around a loop near the Gallopers, and back past the engine shed to the station. The journey takes about five minutes. The miniature railway is supported by members of the Liphook Modellers Club who have a clubhouse at Hollycombe.
All visitors, purchasing tickets at normal admission prices, whether they Gift Aid their admission or not, can revisit the museum as many times as they like free of any extra charge for a full year from date of purchase. This is valid only for the people admitted on the original ticket. The ticket must be shown on readmission and the person who made the purchase must be present. Tickets are not transferable and identity will be checked on applying for readmission. Assistance dogs, as well as well-behaved dogs on a lead, are welcome. The cafeteria serves a range of hot snacks, light refreshments, ice creams and more. They also cater for most allergies too. A telephone is located in the Shop for emergency use and there is a First Aid Room. Baby changing facilities are available in the Disabled Toilet adjacent to the Souvenir Shop. There is wheelchair access to the Visitor Centre and train, and most of the site is fairly wheelchair friendly. However, by their nature and age, many of the fairground rides are accessed by steps and are not able to accommodate wheelchairs. There is a disabled access toilet in the building. Carers are admitted for free. All rides are included in the admission.
Location : Hollycombe Working Steam Museum, Iron Hill, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7LP
Transport : Liphook (National Rail) then taxi or 20 minutes. Bus Routes : No bus service.
Opening Times : Sundays until 9th October and specified summer dates 11:00 to 17:00; Saturday evenings until 8th October 18:00 to 22:00
Tickets : Adults £16.00; Seniors £14.00; Children (3 - 15) £12.00
Tel. : 01962 771305
Questions or comments? Get in touch:
- [email protected]
- google.com/vipauk
- © VIPA. All rights reserved
- Charity No. 1061693.
- Webmaster : David Green (VIPA)
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COMMENTS
The Hollycombe Steam Collection is a collection of steam-powered vehicles, amusement rides, and attractions in South East England. It is based in West Sussex, but the closest town is Liphook in Hampshire. The collection includes fairground rides, a display farm, two railways, and the woodland gardens.
The Steam Yachts ride is part of the Carters Steam Fair selection of travelling vintage rides and attractions.
Discover Hollycombe Steam in the Country in Liphook, England: This incredible collection contains rare steam-powered engines, rides, and trains.
With modern fairground rides becoming more extreme, it's nice to take a step back in time and visit a vintage fairground like Carters Steam Fair, for traditional rides and beautiful artwork.
Hollycombe's Edwardian Fairground takes us back to over 100 years ago, bringing the atmosphere of a larger steam fair to life. Ride authentic steam-driven Victorian and Edwardian fairground rides; Golden Gallopers, Steam Swings and Chair-o-Planes. For younger children there are children's Chair-o-Planes, Austin Cars, Toy Roundabout and hand ...
The Edwardian Fairground is a complete steam fair comprising rides originating from the 1870s and later. The rides include a Tidman 3 abreast Golden Gallopers roundabout, a single Steam Yacht a Razzle Dazzle being a grand aerial novelty ride with a rotating and tilting movement. S Fields Steam Circus was built between 1868 and 1872 [citation needed] and is the oldest surviving mechanically ...
The Edwardian Fairground is a complete steam fair comprising rides originating from the 1870s and later. The rides include a Tidman 3 abreast Golden Gallopers roundabout, a single Steam Yacht a Razzle Dazzle being a grand aerial novelty ride with a rotating and tilting movement.
Carters Steam Fair - Rides and Attractions We operate and maintain a large collection of vintage rides and sidestalls, ranging in date from the late 1890s to the 1960s, and every season we travel them with vintage heavy lorries and traditional showman's living wagons.
Dating from William Cartwright and Henry Cracknell's patent of 1888, the steam yacht, as the ride was to become known, was the first "white knuckle" thrill ride to be seen on travelling fairgrounds. The wonderful new book documents the history of each of the twenty rides which travelled in Great Britain, the traction engines which ...
Currently our offering is 3 big fairground rides, 3 children's fairground rides, ghost house, hall of mirrors, bioscope shows, fairground organs, steam farm, narrow-gauge railway, garden railway, traction engine rides, beam engine, portable engines in steam, the gardens and side stalls in the fairground.
Harry Lee was probably seen as mad travelling an out-dated ride like the Yachts in the 1940s and 1950s, but the renaissance came for him with the popularity of the steam rallies in the 1960s and 1970s. Harry was astute enough to buy any scrap sets which came on the market and for several years his was the only steam set travelling.
Hollycombe is steam museum that is also home to the UK's largest collection of steam powered funfair rides. Among the collection is a 1912 set of Gallopers, the 1908 Razzle Dazzle that's regarded as the first white knuckle ride, 1911 Steam Yacht that is the precursor to the modern Pirate Ship, 1930 Juvenile ride that operate at Chessington World of Adventures till 1985 and the Dobby ride ...
Explore the ancient coastal redwoods to the top of Bear Mountin aboard an 1890s authentically preserved steam train.
Our fair wouldn't be complete without the vintage vehicles that we use to transport the rides and to pull the living wagons.
The firm made steam engines for a variety of purposes, including ones for showmen and fair rides. This engine was originally for Waddington's (see "Excelsior Steam Yachts"). Waddington was a big name in fairground history, especially with regard to steam fairs: The impact of the steam machine on the development of the riding machine was profound.
The fun doesn't end there as we invite you to sit back and enjoy a ride on a steam-train on one of our railways. The Narrow-Gauge Railway takes in breath-taking views over the South Downs, or ride our Garden Railway that is nestled between the Fairground and the Woodland Gardens.
Carters Steam Fair was thought to be the world's largest travelling vintage funfair. It operated vintage British fairground rides and stalls since 1977.
The Harry Lee - Steam yachts are a Fairground ride built by Savage Bros of Kings Lynn, Norfolk in ?. The yachts are operated by Savage no. 867 now named Reg. This ride is part of The Saunders Collection.
The World-Famous Skunk Train Step back in time for a magical ride through the redwoods on the world-famous Skunk Train. Since 1885 the historic Skunk has made its way through old-growth redwood groves, over scenic trestle bridges, through spectacular tunnels, and into the heart of the Noyo River canyon. Today's riders enjoy the same pristine […]
The Swing Boats ride is part of the Carters Steam Fair selection of travelling vintage rides and attractions.
Explore the ancient coastal redwoods aboard Roaring Camp's authentically preserved trains, the Redwood Forest Steam Train and the Santa Cruz Beach Train.
For all you Bay Area natives who grew up visiting Great America in the 1970s and 1980s, we know parting ways with some of the old-school rides below produced some bittersweet memories. How many of these classic rides do you remember?
A two-day country show giving visitors the opportunity to ride on vintage steam engines is set to take place at the end of the month. The Grand Henham Steam Rally and Country Show is taking place ...
A SUPERB WELL MADE CARD MODEL OF THE STEAM YACHTS, IN GOOD CONDITION.