Locals have been left furious after an annual horse fair dating back 750 years sparked parking chaos, with vehicles parked everywhere from a World War II memorial to a graveyard.
Crowds of travellers descended on the idyllic Hampshire village of Wickham, which has a population of just 2,000 people, in a tradition that harks back generations.
Horses and ponies lined the streets alongside their owners hoping to sell them, and attendees could be seen strolling through the square carrying long whips.
In keeping with tradition, youngsters were given the opportunity to drive the majestic creatures in front of keen onlookers.
The sleepy village came to a standstill as roads, shops and pubs all closed for the day, with ordinary life replaced by a funfair atmosphere.
But some Wickham locals said they batten down the hatches when the fair comes to town, too scared to venture out in the evening.
Other residents were left disgruntled by a lack of ‘respect’ after hordes of cars parked up near the town’s graveyard, as well as on a World War II memorial.
Nigel Prior, 68, who is a part of the village and district neighbourhood watch, told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s a nightmare everywhere. They are just on everything.
Several cars had parked up on the grass of the village war memorial, upsetting locals
Hundreds of travellers have descended on a sleepy Hampshire village for the annual Wickham Horse Fair
The village of Wickham, home to just 2,000 people, is brought to a standstill with a number of main roads set to remain closed until Thursday morning
‘I did ask one guy because I saw him pulling up by the church – it’s not a graveyard as such, just a part of it.
‘And he just moved the parking sign and parked up.
He added: ‘And they are on the memorial garden – it’s just disrespectful.’
One local said: ‘I 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.’
Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to the 13th century, when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in the village centre.
As well as the shops shutting, some of the village’s busiest roads are set to remain closed until Thursday morning – despite the event finishing at around six on Wednesday.
The A334 between Blind Lane and Titchfield Lane, A32 and, busy Fareham and Winchester Roads, are just a few of the routes which have been shut, while a number of popular bus routes have also been diverted.
The village’s World War II memorial is located in the churchyard of St Nicholas Parish Church.
Constructed of Portland stone, the slim pillar that stands on a plinth commemorates the village’s fallen war heroes, whose names are inscribed on its steps.
The event, which traces its origins back 750 years, sees the groups buy, sell and trade horses and ponies while taking part in parades
Dozens of horses lined the streets this morning, where temporary stalls and fun fairs have been installed ready for the event
Elaborating on the incident in the churchyard, Mr Prior, who lives locally, said of the driver: ‘He had two kids in the back and he said, “I don’t give a f*** mate”, and his kids were doing the V’s up at me.
‘Again, they are at the memorial garden and we put a big rock there to stop them getting on it, but of course it was not big enough so they just moved it.’
He continued: ‘I have taken photographs of the grass on the memorial and it just – is there any respect?
‘It is a World War II memorial and they have six cars on it. The lack of respect is a bit annoying.’
He explained they had offered to organise a mini-bus to transport attendees from a nearby field where they could park.
‘But they didn’t want to know about it. Too far. So they park wherever they can,’ Mr Prior said.
‘We have three events a year on the square. There is a lot of buzz but this is the only one where there isn’t any thought about parking.
‘And that’s the difficulty because it is a Royal Charter, they don’t have to worry about it.’
However, Mr Prior said there have been no major incidents at the event for the last nine years. He explained the last one saw somebody shot in the eye with a catapult.
‘I have enjoyed the last few years,’ he said. ‘Most of the time its alright, just some of them are unruly.’
He added: ‘It is nothing like the numbers they used to get 15 years ago. Even with the extra ones this year it is probably half what it was.
‘You have got to try and embrace it, you have to make it work for everybody.’
Some travellers arrived on horseback, with one tracksuit-clad youngster pictured riding in preparation for the parade
Some travellers arrived on horseback, with one tracksuit-clad youngster pictured riding in preparation for the parade
Meanwhile, a group of police officers were seen around a young boy and a local resident outside a home opposite a row of stalls. The boy was escorted away by his furious father.
Elsewhere, local Claire, 66 advised new attendees to come with an ‘open mind’, saying travellers were ‘harsher’ towards their animals.
Saying that she comes to the event annually, she added: ‘I suppose I do enjoy it. I am not a gypsy or a traveller. I am a local person.
‘Sometimes their way of life is harsher than other people’s, especially towards their animals.
‘I think you have to come to this event with an open mind. It’s their way of life and I think we should encompass everybody’s way of life.’
Meanwhile, she believes the local pub and stores should stay open and embrace the fair as it could be profitable.
‘I mean there are a few places that are open,’ she said.
Diane, 60, who is also a local, described the event as an ‘eye opener’, as she divulged that she would not feel safe attending in the evening.
A woman is pictured preparing a horse for the fair in Hampshire
Ponies and horses were seen tied to a truck near the site of the event hours before it began
‘We have been a few times but not on a regular basis,’ she said.
‘Its an eye opener. It’s interesting to see. We came today to look at the horses.’
Recalling the event as a child, she said: ‘It has gotten a bad name but as a whole – I would not come down in the evening – but during the day its quite nice to see what’s going on.
‘I don’t know if I would feel so safe in the evening – during the day it’s fine.
Meanwhile, all but two business shut – a chip shop and a pastry store – under the guidance of local police.
However, their owners insist the fair is good for community, and others should follow suit.
Vicky Herbert, the 45-year-old owner of Pirate Pastries, insisted the fair is ‘100 per cent’ a positive for business.
‘We have been here nearly two years and I live next door so I am very local. I was here and just thought let’s open next year. Let’s give it a go,’ she said.
‘I ventured out last year and thought: “Yeah, let’s sell pasties, everyone needs a hot pastie.” So we are open, and everyone is friendly. Everyone was all for us, the community, the local parish.
‘It has a good impact for business and it’s a good time. Have some fun and take part in the local tradition.’
Julie Churchill, 52, the owner of the local fish and chip shop said: ‘We are usually the only place that opens.
‘We have been for years and years. Its lovely to see old and new faces.
‘A lot of the traveller community that we haven’t seen in years say hello – it’s lovely.
‘We stay open because everyone needs feeding. In general my thoughts are let’s embrace it. Come along and see what it’s about. The busier the better.
‘Let’s make it bigger again. It’s a tradition – no one controls it. It has been here and will stay here.’
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.
Lee Cookson, who was visiting the fair for the first time, said: ‘I am not gypsy but I love horses and it’s a good day out – you enjoy your day.
‘It’s really friendly. I know travellers get a bad reputation and grief from drivers but it’s just a day to enjoy a tradition of years of travellers.
‘A lot traders around here will be grateful for the influx of trade.’
He added: ‘It’s a day out with travellers. It’s what they do. It’s what they did back in the day, they would ride around.’
Nicki Oliver, who also lives locally, spoke of her joy at the long-standing event, saying: ‘It is just tradition and I think the traveller community have a great community. They love it.’
The grandmother, who has been attending annually for the last 40 years, added: ‘It is just one day.
‘We have other events during the year that you could also say are disruptive, so I think you just have to embrace it.
‘People that live here obviously know they can’t get in and out today and that does irritate people but it’s just one day.
‘The best thing is for people to come and see [it] for themselves. If you have been once, you will come again.’
The event has taken place every year for centuries, apart from in 2020 and 2021 amid lockdown regulations.
But, in the years that followed, up to 150 people were understood to have turned up, in a move slammed by police and angry business owners.
Yet some residents take a different view, with many welcoming the travellers every year and admitting ‘it is what it is’.
One resident living close to the heart of the action said: ‘It’s been here for hundreds of years! 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!’
A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: ‘Hampshire County Council deal with the road closures, so you would need to contact them for a direct answer on that. Our statement is below for you.
‘This year’s Wickham Horse Fair takes place on Wednesday 20 May. As in previous years, we have been working with key stakeholders, local authorities and partners to ensure it is a safe and enjoyable event for everyone.
‘Officers in high visibility uniform will be there on the day to engage with visitors and respond to any public safety issues that may arise.
‘Wickham Horse Fair is a unique and historic event in Hampshire, and we would expect a large number of people to attend again this year. We are advising motorists to give themselves more time for their journeys and keep up to date with planned road closures.’
