Villagers close roads and batten down the hatches as hundreds of travellers arrive for traditional 750-year-old horse fair

Published: 11:17, 20 May 2026 | Updated: 11:23, 20 May 2026 Residents of a usually sleepy Hampshire village have battened down the hatches as hundreds of travellers arrived for an annual horse fair which dates back 750 years.  The Wickham Horse Fair sees scores of Gypsy and Roma travellers descend on the village, a short drive from Portsmouth, every year on May 20.  On what is a day of trading, the groups buy and sell horses and ponies while parading animals through the village in front of large crowds. The event traces its origins back to the 13th century, when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in the village centre. However it has faced criticism in recent years due to the treatment of horses racing down the streets - with some subsequently having to be put down. Groups began to arrive on Wednesday morning, with travellers, dozens of horses and even dogs lining the closed-off streets of Wickham.  Images showed youngsters rolling into the village on horseback while others arrived in pony and trap.  The fair brings Wickham to a standstill, with the local council warning drivers to use alternative routes as many main roads will remain closed until Thursday morning.  Hundreds of travellers have descended on a usually sleepy Hampshire village for the annual Wickham Horse Fair (A boy is pictured running along a closed street with a pony) The event, which traces its origins back 750 years, sees the groups buy, sell and trade horses and ponies while taking part in parades in which the animals are trotted through the village square in front of large crowds Dozens of horses lined the streets of Wickham this morning, where temporary stalls and fun fairs have been installed ready for the event Images showed youngsters rolling into the village in pony and trap Others meanwhile arrived on horseback, with one tracksuit-clad youngster pictured riding a horse before the event got underway The fair brings Wickham to a standstill, with the local council warning drivers to use alternative routes with many main roads not set to reopen until Thursday mornin The A334, A32 and busy Fareham and Winchester Roads are just a few of the routes which have been shut, while a number of popular bus routes have been diverted.  Shops and pubs usually also close on the day of the raucous event, with owners admitting it 'isn't worth the effort' given the village's focus on the fair.  Traditionally, the local butchers was one of the only stores to remain open - but last year it decided to close its doors.  Manager Ben told the Daily Mail when it visited in May 2025: 'We're not opening this year no. We just don't have the staff and it isn't really worth the effort. We would if we could, there hasn't been trouble for years.'  Fun fairs, burger vans and other stalls however set up shop to cash in on the historic day that has been celebrated 'every year' with no signs of stopping.  Traditionally, the launch of the event is met with a number of horses being raced down the streets of Wickham while others are paraded through the town, including small ponies. In 2020 and 2021, the event was banned as lockdown was imposed on the country. But, in the latter of those years, up to 150 people were understood to have turned up, in a move slammed by police and angry business owners. One local said: 'I don't like it and I don't go. I just stay in and shut my doors and windows. I seal in for it. They shut down everything. 'It's getting smaller thankfully, we just avoid it, it's not something I want to be involved in. People have things go missing afterwards apparently but who knows if that's connected. Locals were pictured preparing for the event on Wednesday morning A host of main roads have been closed with drivers warned to seek out alternative routes Horses were tied up to fences across the village ahead of the beginning of the parades Dogs were also pictured tied up to temporary metal fencing early on Wednesday morning The event has sparked complaints from residents in the past, while others admit 'it is what it is' 'Anyway places are closed for a reason.' Yet some residents take a different view, with many welcoming the travellers every year and admitting 'it is what it is'.  One local who lives close to the heart of the action told the Mail: 'It's been here for hundreds of years! We normally go away for it, prior to that we've been in the thick of it.  'But I enjoy watching it, yes I have to move my car, but that's fine. Yes you occasionally get a few unsavoury characters turning up, but that's by the by.  'They've always been good to me!'  Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in the Hampshire town's square since 1269. Members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities gather to trade horses, as well as meeting family and friends.  It was first devised as a weekly fair after Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III before it evolved into the annual event it is now. It is held every year on May 20, unless that falls on a Sunday. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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