Seamer Horse Fair returns to Scarborough
It's been cancelled for the last two years because of the coronavirus pandemic
The Seamer Horse Fair is back in Scarborough today (Friday, 15 July) after a two-year absence.
It had been postponed in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The event, which dates back to the 14th Century, is held on council-owned land at Seamer, near Scarborough.
The origins of the fair date from a Royal Charter issued by Richard II in 1382, but it was not until the 1900s that it became associated with travellers.
Scarborough Council said the site is the same as used for previous fairs, located just off the B1261 between Seamer and Crossgates.
Facilities will be provided for travellers, including the provision of an onsite water supply via standpipes and a horse trough in the adjacent dell, as well as portable toilets and a daily refuse collection service.
North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards will monitor the site and the RSPCA will attend to ensure the welfare of horses and other animals.
In a joint statement, all partners involved in managing the site, said:
“After a two year gap, travellers are looking to return to horse fairs they traditionally attended prior to the start of the pandemic.
“Our commitment is to ensure that the event is safe and well-managed, and to promote respectful behaviour so that there is minimal disruption to the local resident community.”