Ilkeston - After The Fair
w/e 30 October 2016
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
For a few days in the middle of October each year, the town centre
is taken over by travelling showmen to stage the Annual Charter
Fair and the Market Place throbs with the sound of loud music
and heaves with the crowds that turn up to all the attractions.
There is always someone to complain about the disruption to the
town but they are massively outnumbered by those who look forward
to, and thoroughly enjoy the event. This was Saturday afternoon
and the Market Place was heaving with thousands of people. By
noon on Sunday, the Fair had been dismantled, packed away and
Market Place had been cleared.
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A couple of days later bollards that had been removed prior to
the arrival of the Fair, had reappeared.
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As had the flower tubs along the church wall.
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Protective fencing still surrounded the War Memorial but would
soon be removed.
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Across the Market Place in the Pimlico corner, similar barriers
guarded the Horse Trough and Drinking Fountain against accidental
damage.
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At the bottom end of the Pimlico Car Park, the Magic Mouse roller
coaster usually arrives a few days before the rest of the Fair
as it takes longer to erect but by Tuesday after the Fair, even
that had gone and the car park had resumed its intended use.
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There is sometimes a ride at the Fair called "Chaos"
and it was a little chaotic during the Fair on Albert Street.
Bus routes were diverted and were also different to previous
years which caused some confusion for passengers but by the following
week, the buses had resumed their normal routes and all that
remained on Albert Street were the temporary "Bus Stop"
signs.
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Wharncliffe Road is usually where the buses stop but it's obvious
from the image on the left taken during the Fair why they were
rerouted.
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Queen Street and the car park too were also out of bounds for
traffic during the Fair and were occupied by some of those thrill
rides but again all evidence of them had soon gone.
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Even the Recreation Ground which had been a virtual village for
the showmen during their stay in the town bore little evidence
of their occupation except perhaps for a few tyre marks on the
grass. It's a small price to pay for all the enjoyment they bring
and before you know it, they'll be here again next year for the
765th celebration of the Royal Charter.
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