Goose Fair

Sydney Race (1875-1960) lived nearly all his life in Nottingham. By the age of 15 he was writing diaries, a passion that would continue until 1952.

Bringing the past to life

During his teens and early twenties Nottingham's Goose Fair was a major event on his calendar.

The Nottingham Archives contains many of Race's diaries and by kind permission we are able to reproduce some of them here.

Through Sydney Race's words we are able to paint a picture of Goose Fair that is very different from the one we know today.

But one thing is the same - the fair was as popular then as it is now although in Race's days the event would be held in Nottingham's Old Market Square.

Goose Fair on Old Market Square c.1906

Race's Goose Fair - 1892 - 1898

Sydney Race lists the sideshows of the period. It's doubtful many would be allowed today on grounds of taste and decency.

In 1892 you could pay to see Polly O'Gracious, the fat child or Major and Madame Mite, the midgets.

In 1896 there was the grandly titled Wallace - the untamable lion and a man who apparently had transparent legs.

By this time there were galloping horse roundabouts and ones that went through tunnels.

He also recalls the food being sold. There was fried fish and potato, smoking hot peas, ham sandwiches, tea and coffee.

Too much kissing

By 1898 early forms of cinema were the main attraction at Goose Fair. But Race also noted something that would shock the Victorian values of the time.

"In one thing the Fair, I think, was remarkable this year – there was a tremendous amount of kissing on the roundabouts. And it was going on vigorously at an early hour of the evening too."

Click 'next' and read fuller extracts from Sydney Race's diaries:

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