09/06/2025
We Loved This & Thought It Deserved A Repost 🎠🎪
A question, When did the Fun Fair first begin?
I can tell you a story, make of it what you will, logical explanation.
The Fair got started as soon as people started laughing, once we realized how to entertain
It was the merrymaker that first came.
The merrymakers would entertain the Kings and Queens of past times.
The Merrymaker would travel from town to town drawing in the crowds, making people laugh probably just being daft. With money to be made, it wasn't long before many more Showmen joined the parade and this is how the Fun Fair became. The Kings and Queens seized the moment and Chartered the Fun Fair to make sure the people got their share of fun, just as the Kings and Queens had done.
With the Charters in place and money to be made the Kings and Queens knew the tax would get paid from the money that was made.
When the Fairs first got started it was only singing and dancing the travelling shows we know today.
Once the Victorian engineers were able to see that money could be made, when you were entertained, It wasn't long before Victorian engineers got into the game. With no power to use how was the Victorian going to amuse? The masters of invention soon created a swinging sensation.
They first designed the swinging boats, which you just needed to pull on the rope to swing the boat. Hand-turned children's rides it was a great time to visit the Fun Fair.
Then the lighthouse slide that you just needed to climb, and once at to top it was a Steep drop-down, so with your mat in hand, you could slide from the top nonstop.
The Victorian, engineers took the Fun Fairs into a New Era. With the steam engine to utilize, soon came the Galloping Horses' Steam-Yachts and Gondolla rides. Thanks to the Victorian Engineers the Fun Fairs was here to stay. With people visiting in their thousands. The showmen soon realised they best branch out, to the coast because people love the sea and that's where they were all going to be.
With Victorian engineers onboard it wasn't long before the piers were built and Showmen arrived to entertain and they, thrived. Entertaining the crowds the Showmen stood very proud. Where can we go from here?
From the 18th century to the 19th yes there was still lots more fun at the Fair. With the development of the Diesel engine, out there, the Fun Fair went from strength to Strength. People are up all night admiring the electric lights what a spectacular site. The rides became faster thanks to diesel engines and electrical motors. No more pulling on the rope the swing boat had gone, and time moved on.
The time had come to sit back and hold tight.
With many engineers competing for the chance to design the biggest and the best the fun fair rides always impressed, for the engineers it was like racing to the moon.
In 1933 the people couldn't wait to see, the Waltzer arrived, this spinning sensation was a fantastic creation, and by the way, it still stands today.
With electric light, people now have to hold tight, and music playing the crowds are still staying.
It wasn't long before the Hydraulic engineers appeared. Moving the fun fair further and faster. Hydraulics and technology and still money to be made the engineers technicians and electricians pushed the boundaries and the Fun Fair was once again pushed into the 20th century. From merrymakers to steel makers and hydraulic creators, the Fun Fair has found its way through the centuries. Ask me when will it end. My answer will be, Look at the past it's always going to last. By CC❤️
