Hearsall Common Fair

In the 1960's, without all those big amusement parks that are around now, the Fair really was something to look forward to, although, I wasn't very adventurous and I only liked the candy floss and 'Hook-the-Duck'

Hi Foxcote. I went there a lot as a child and really liked the crock fair. My favourite stall was the 'hook a duck' one. Can't remember ever winning anything though.

Loved the dodgems, and throwing the ping pong balls into the goldfish bowls. Then there are the hoops thrown over the Gucci watches!! I don't think!! Always enjoyed the fairs and crock fairs, watching them shuffle the plates like cards. The little balls on elastic filled with sawdust. How much more can you remember?

Just food really Dreamtime! Apple fritters and the beefburgers and that chocolate-covered honeycomb and brandy snaps. Good job I didn't like those up-and-downy rides, I would have been ill! And the goldfish that always died after a couple of days, poor things. Oh, Roll-the-penny! I liked that. How boring am I! I did love going at night though, all the coloured lights and the music and general buzz of it all

My son, his big sister would drag him on most rides then he would liven up when it was time to go home. Stick a toffee apple in his fist and he was quite happy. Those were the days.

I used to enjoy the crock fair more than the amusements. I always marvelled at the tricks which the stallholders could do with the crockery, juggling with the cups, spreading a line of plates in one movement along an arm, even throwing a plate up using another plate and catching it with a third one. The lino or carpet salesmen used to unroll their wares in a single flourishing movement and bang a roll with their hand or a flat stick as they counted down ("Not ten, not eight, not even 6, but five bob a square yard!!! Now you can't say fairer than that!!"). Some played the role of an auctioneer and counted down with a gavel which gave the biggest crash at the point of sale ("Sold to the lady in the pink hat for the best bargain of the day! Only two to go and you'll clean me out!").

The crock fair has its origins in ancient times when down-on-their-luck weavers used the common to sell their surplus wares. It was known as Horsall Common in those days and along with the neighbouring hamlet of Horwell was known for amusements which would not be tolerated within the city boundary such as bare-knuckle fighting and greyhound racing.

Does anyone remember the fair being at the bottom of Mitchell Ave, Canley. It must have been around 1948-50

I've only just found this website and saw comments about the fair on Hearsall Common. I and my siblings used to go often. Easter 1963 I was working on the fair, selling those straws with a rolled cloakroom ticket inside. Chance of winning anything decent would have been slim. The music being played was Beatles new songs. It rained all week and it was miserable. For years after I couldn't listen to the Beatles. I think I spent most of the little I earned on tea and burgers. I certainly was tempted to runaway with the fair. Apologies if I've woken anyone. Dave

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum I remember Gerry and the Pacemakers being played a lot at the fairground that particular year.

Welcome to the site Dave. If you haven't seen them yet, you might be interested in the pictures I posted of the fair around 1960/1. They are in the members gallery under Binkey11 pictures. There are also a couple of pics from the 50's. Cheers Bri

The crock fair is the one I remember, thank you everyone for your memories of all the stalls etc. The balls on elastic filled with sawdust, the goldfish which somehow I always managed to win, but which always died, even though I was good at keeping goldfish (see one of my other posts), as well as rolling the table tennis ball, trying to get a high enough score to win a prize, were all great. However, we were only discussing today that our first dinner service came from the crock fair, when we were planning our wedding!!

Believe it or not but when, as a family, we came to Perth in 1974 and stayed at a hostel for 8 months whilst waiting for our house to be built, at the same hostel was John who did at one time have a crock stall at the fair and used to shuffle the plates and offer you the whole set in a basket. I was, to coin a phrase, 'gob smacked'. Which only goes to prove, it is a small world and it is indeed getting smaller. I would add, there was also a stall owner who used to juggle the cups, so always check for chips next time folks!

I certainly remember the stallholders shuffling plates and juggling cups at the Crock Fair. In the early 70s my mother wanted an everyday dinner service and they were about £3 or so there. I went with the girlfriend of the day and came home with one which my mother was delighted with and lasted for many years as it seemed almost indestructible. The sellers were certainly showmen who could attract a crowd. In truth, lots of the stuff they sold were seconds from the factories in Staffordshire, the faults usually being slight flaws in the pattern somewhere. They obviously picked them up cheap. I recall one stallholder who could get no takers for one set so he just smashed the lot on the floor and went on to the next one. All good entertainment!

Hi all Archibald & Horace were my two first goldfish, which I brought home from the fair when I was about 9. I have never been without fish in a tank ever since. We had a six foot tropical tank until 2009 when we then downsized to a 2 foot. That must have been quite an experience for a delight to have lasted all but 9 years of my life.