Ilkeston - 766th & One Week
w/e 28 October 2018
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
It's remarkable how quickly things return to normal
after the departure of the travelling showmen. The following
views, each taken from the same spot barely a week apart, illustrate
how the stalls and rides fill the town centre and obscure the
more familiar streets and buildings for a few days each year.
South Street is closed to traffic from its junction with Gladstone
Street as the Fair stretches its octopus like tentacles through
the town.
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Seen from the steps of Queen Street Baptist Church the car park
opposite is also taken over by the Fair.
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Wharncliffe Road too is closed from Albert Street and during
the Fair bus routes are altered but it's not long before the
public transport reverts to its usual bus stops.
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During the Fair the rides and amusements fill the Market Place
but once they have gone it is only taxis in front of the library.
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Parts of St Mary's Church date from the 12th century and although
it has been extended and altered since then the church has overlooked
every one of those 766 years since the Royal Charter to hold
the Fair was granted in 1252. The Fair has also changed immeasurably
since those early years but if the stones of St Mary's could
talk there would be some wonderful stories to tell.
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Street furniture including bollards, seats and planters were
all removed before the Fair arrived but were soon back in place
in the days after although the tubs still need replanting.
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The "Food To Go" has gone as has the Helter Skelter
to reveal not only the Scala Cinema but also the Pimlico car
park which was filled with thrill rides during the Fair.
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The Lower Market Place was eclipsed by the Fair but now the only
Eclipse is the name of the hairdressers on the left.
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Another car park that was eclipsed by the Fair was in front of
the Albion Centre off East Street but the view when the Fair
has gone is so different.
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The clean up after the Fair was soon accomplished but street
cleaning as can be seen here in Bath Street is an on-going occupation.
Something else that can be deduced from this duo of images is
that no sooner had the Fair left town than the Christmas lights
were being erected.
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