Ilkeston - The Charter Fair - No. 754
w/e 22 October 2006
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
Another year, another October and another Charter Fair. The 754th
in fact and the travelling showmen turned up in force again to
take over the centre of the town with their white knuckle rides,
roundabouts, sideshows and assorted amusements for the enjoyment
of Ilkeston folk. Seen here from an upper storey of the Co-Op
building the Market Place is crammed full of entertainments of
all descriptions.
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It's not just the Market Place either as the amusements spread
into all the surrounding streets and car parks. These three images
all show South Street with the left hand picture again being
captured from the Co-Op whilst the two on the right were taken
from similar positions near Weaver Row but at different times
of day.
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The entertainment spreads nearly halfway down Bath Street and
is mainly for children in this part of the Fair. Working our
way up the hill we can see here the Fun House at night (top left);
the Tea Cups and other roundabouts for children near the Albion
Centre (top right); more carousels just above the Albion Centre
(bottom left) and Hook-A-Duck and balloons for sale near the
top of Bath Street (bottom right).
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Another of the main roads leading to the Market Place is Wharncliffe
Road. In the not too distant past you would often find a coconut
shy here next to a rifle range and I once saw motor bikes roaring
around the Wall of Death. On another occasion, the centifugal
force generated by The Rotor pinned riders to the wall as the
floor dropped away. This year it was the Fun House and what can
best be described as a 'Freak Show' that were among the attractions
at the side of the Town Hall.
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Other minor roads were also taken over by the travelling showmen
including Queen Street and East Street on the left above and
Pimlico on the right where most of the more exciting rides including
Big Ben occupied the car park. Notice the Scala Cinema behind
the Helter Skelter which continued with its normal business throughout
the duration of the Fair.
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It was on the Market Place though that there was the greatest
variety of fairground attractions with old traditional favourites
like the Dodgems standing side by side with large thrill rides
like this giant contraption outside the Library that whirled
round at an alarming speed and carried the occupants of the seats
high into the sky. Younger fair-goers had just as much fun on
a bus trip to Blackpool or an updated Hook-A-Duck that is now
called Hook Winnie The Pooh not forgetting of course, the Hot
Dog stall and the Buckets of Candy Floss.
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For as long as I can remember and probably even before that,
the Cakewalk with its old pipework organ music has occupied the
same location opposite the Town Hall and still manages to attract
customers of all ages although some seem more intent on their
mobile phones. They're probably texting their friends to let
them know how good the fair is this year.
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And no selection of pictures of Ilkeston's Charter Fair would
be complete without at least one shot of the Big Wheel, another
ride that has stood in the same position for more years than
most people care to remember. I can categorically state though
that is was not there 754 years ago when King Henry III first
granted the Charter to hold a fair in 1252. Nevertheless, it
will no doubt be back again next October for the 755th Fair.
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