Tag Archives: Recreation ground

Brian Pomroy, Michael Lewis: Funfair 1950s – 1970s

The fair used to come every year until their lorries got so big that they couldn’t come up by the vet’s where Mr Lewis used to be. When the Harbour Commissioners built the bit down by the new car park they went down there, on that bit of green down there, but everyone remembers it up the Rec.

I remember an old chap, Sid Butler, who lived  in the house next to the Rec.,  Kezzie Butler’s brother. He used to ride these chairplanes all evening, from the time it started at 6 o’clock until 10 when it finished. He used to sit there with his old pipe, and he would sit there for hours.  Brian Pomroy b 1937

Westport,home of Michael Lewis, vet. and family

Westport,home of Michael Lewis, vet. and family; photo M. Scott

 

The lorries and trailers for the fair were so big, they couldn’t turn the corner into the lane by Westport. They had a long heavy crowbar with a hook on the end which they would put under the rear axle and lever the wheels round.

On the last evening they used to say to the children, ‘If you come back tomorrow, we’ll give some money for helping us.’  Of course, they were gone the next morning.
After the fair had left, the children used to go over the field picking up the loose change that had been dropped in the grass. Michael Lewis b 1923 Yarmouth Vet. from 1956

Eileen Smith: Funfair, Carnivals 1920s, 1930s

Fair Arrival at Yarmouth, Steam driven

Fair Arrival at Yarmouth, Steam driven

The Fun Fair

Arnolds Fun Fair came to the Island for August, with 3 big traction engines, brought on the barges towed by the tug Jumsey.

The Jumsey towed the wooden barges to the Quay and the biggest traction engine, the ‘Island Chief’  was the first off, and parked in front of the Harbour master and Customs Office ( which is now the Lifeboat shop). Big wedges of wood were put under the back wheels  and a hawser was hitched to the wagons. One by one they were pulled out of the tow barges by the Island Chief. When all were out on dry land, Mr Arnold drove the traction engine and  three wagons up Quay Street, across the Square  and up the High Street.

Island chief, traction engine

Island chief, traction engine

The other engines and wagons and lorries would follow, causing all sorts of disruption in the High Street, which was the only road in and out of Yarmouth.

 When the Funfair set up in Yarmouth, it was on the Recreation Ground which was given for the children of Yarmouth. There would be gallopers, chairplanes, dodgems and swing boats; proper coconut shies and all kinds of stalls. It cost 1d in the afternoon, 3d in the evening. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921

Funfair: Carnival Week, 1930s – 1980s

Funfair on Yarmouth Rec.

Funfair on Yarmouth Rec.

 When the Funfair set up in Yarmouth, it was on the Recreation Ground which was given for the children of Yarmouth. There would be gallopers, chairplanes, dodgems and swing boats; proper coconut shies and all kinds of stalls. It cost 1d in the afternoon, 3d in the evening. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921 photo

 I used to go love to go to the fair with my Gran. I’d save up my pennies for Shove Ha’penny and all the different stalls. Effie Pitman b 1921

Ryall family, funfair behind

Ryall family watching Carnival, funfair behind, with dodgems tent : photo Di Broomfield

 

 

 

Carol Corbett : Early Days

The recreation field was where I learnt to ride my first bicycle.  I can remember my dad taking me up there and saying, ‘Right, now go off!’  – and me falling off several times.  It was always full of children playing and Saturday was football matches with lots of people watching and lots of noise.   Carol Corbett nee Cotton b 1946

Football at the Rec.1950s

Football at the Rec.1950s