The Old Showmen and the Old London Fairs

This volume opens a vivid window onto a vanished world, tracing the rise, peak, and gradual decline of the bustling fairs that once dotted London’s streets, fields and riverbanks. From the chartered markets of medieval Winchester to the legendary Bartholomew fair, the narrative weaves together the economic forces that birthed these gatherings with colourful snapshots of the spectacles that drew crowds—tight‑rope walkers, curiosities, and the lively chatter of townsfolk.

Because written records are scarce, the author stitches together newspaper notices, surviving bills and the recollections of a few remaining descendants of the showmen. Readers meet figures such as Gyngell, Scowton and Wombwell, receiving rare, personal glimpses of the itinerant entertainers who owned the streets for a day. The book preserves their stories before they fade completely, offering a thoughtful portrait of a class of popular performers who shaped everyday life in historic London.