The Hoppings
The Hoppings is an annual travelling funfair held on the Town Moor in Newcastle upon Tyne, during the last week in June. It is one of Europe's largest travelling funfairs.[1][2][3] Its forerunner was The Blaydon Races, which was held in Blaydon.[citation needed]
Several origins have been suggested for the name, most of which relate to dancing. The word “hopping”, means a dance in Middle English (Old fairs included dancing). Another idea stems from the clothing which the travellers used to wear; that being of old, sack-like tops and pants. Clothing often became infested with fleas from the animals that travelled with the fair. People were often seen “jumping” or “hopping” about itching from the bites which they received. Or the name may derive from the Anglo-Saxon word “hoppen” meaning funfair.
The fair began as a Temperance Fair in 1882. It was scheduled to coincide with Race Week at Newcastle Racecourse, during which the Northumberland Plate was awarded.
The fair took place at Jesmond Dene from 1914–1918 and returned to the more spacious Town Moor, just north of the city centre, in 1919.[citation needed] There was no Festival on the Moor between 1920 and 1923, but it returned in June 1924, where it continued annually until 1946; a non-Showmen's Guild Fair was held that year but proved to be unpopular.[citation needed] The Guild showmen returned in 1947 and the Hoppings was a success with a record attendance.[citation needed]
In 2013 after a dispute between the Showmen's Guild and Newcastle City Council over pitch and rent terms, an alternate fair was held at Herrington Country Park, Sunderland.[4][5] Newcastle council held an alternate event with “broader appeal” which included a funfair held on the Town Moor.[6] The Hoppings returned to the Town Moor in 2014 and 2015 after the dispute was resolved.[citation needed]
References
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- ↑ Lanagan, Paul; (2010). The Hoppings: Newcastle's Town Moor Fair. ISBN 978-0-9555059-0-4
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External links
- Official website
- The Town Moor Hoppings Behind the scenes of Europe's largest fairground
- The Hoppings on UKrides Pictures & videos of The Hoppings
