Pubs and shops shut for days as ‘divisive’ gypsy horse fair begins near Leeds
Pubs and shops shut for days as ‘divisive’ gypsy horse fair begins near Leeds with hundreds of travellers set to attend
Crowds gathering for centuries-old Lee Gap Horse Fair kicking off in YorkshireThe historical festival hailed as time for celebration for the traveller communityBut some claim the event has proven to be disruptive for locals in recent years
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Pubs and shops in west Yorkshire are having to shut for days as a controversial gypsy horse fair kicks off today.
Hundreds of travellers are set to attend the centuries-old Lee Gap Horse Fair, which takes place in West Ardsley, between Leeds and Wakefield.
The horse trading fair has taken place on Baghill Green – fields off Heybeck Lane, for almost 1,000 years.
The festival is said to have been chartered by King Stephen in 1139, which would mean it is England’s oldest horse fair.
There are two fairs that take place every year; the first on August 24 and the second – Latter Lee – on September 17.
While the fair is a time for celebration for the traveller community, it can cause disturbance for locals, with some suggesting it ‘divides the community deeply’ and highlighted how ‘pub landlords have to shut their doors for two to three days’.
Hundreds of travellers are set to attend the centuries-old Lee Gap Horse Fair, which takes place in West Ardsley, between Leeds and Wakefield
The horse trading fair has taken place on Baghill Green – fields off Heybeck Lane, for almost 1,000 years
One landlady who didn’t want to be identified confirmed that she had closed for two days, saying that they ‘always close’ when the fair rolls into town.
She said: ‘It’s so we don’t get any trouble. We’ve owned the pub for 14 years and we opened the first year and after that we closed.’
She said that the year she opened they ‘didn’t have any trouble’ but they struggled to get people out when they tried to finish serving.
She said: ‘When it’s three hours after closing time you should not be having people still in.’
She added that as far as she knew ‘everybody closes’ in the area when the fair is on.
She said that she wasn’t aware of any issues being caused on previous years and they tend not to hear too much from the travellers.
She said: ‘I presume they’re alright because we don’t hear of trouble. But it’s always different when there’s alcohol involved. A pub is different to a shop. You don’t want the risk.’
She added that police come around the pubs two weeks before the event to advise the businesses and to get in touch if there are any issues.
Another resident said that he had heard of there being trouble at other pubs in the area in the past but said that he had been down to the fair a few times in the past and enjoyed himself.
He said: ‘Some of the old traditional caravans that they’re in and the music and accents are amazing.’
The festival is said to have been chartered by King Stephen in 1139, which would mean it is England’s oldest horse fair
He also said that there can be issues caused with parking and getting around on the roads when they arrive.
It comes after travellers brawled at the Applyby Horse Fair in Cumbria earlier this month, sparking police to send armed officers to tackle ‘serious violence’ after receiving a tip that rival groups were planning to settle feuds.
The local police force immediately implemented a Section 60 order, which gives officers enhanced stop and search powers.
Traditionally, the Lee Gap Horse Fair was said to centre on cloth and horse dealing and during medieval times dealers in cloth arrived from western Europe.
According to information-britain.co.uk, the fair’s name comes from the changes after the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500s.
The local vicar, Dr Lee, made arrangements for the fair to continue, and it was named after him.
At this time travellers started coming to the fair and have continued to do so ever since.
West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council have been approached for comment.
