Stow on the Wold Horse Fair

Stow on the Wold has been the holder of a Gypsy Horse Fair, that runs twice a year and has since around the early 15th century. It's held the closest Thursday to May 12th and October 24th, these dates were said to have been decided on the feasts of Saint Phillip and James (May 12th) and the feasts of St. Edward the Confessor.
Stow is right in the middle of many different track ways that lead around the county that workers would come and get shelter there and be able to sell some of their goods, in a sort of market fashion. From Wales and the West, the Thames Valley, the Forest of Dean, the Midlands, Worcestershire and the River of Seven. They would all travel through Stow and it became a recognised market that dated back to the 1100's and ran all the way until the start of the 1990's.
In the early 15th century there was a petition for two Horse Fairs, one in May and the other in October and these still run today.
On the 20th of October 2016 we travelled all the way to Stow on the Wold to photograph the fair and the people for our assignment. Below are some of my photographs on what its like today.