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Jonny Pickup
During Appleby Horse Fair the quaint street of Battlebarrow becomes busy from 11am as crowds of gypsies gather around sellers and their horses to inspect, and barter.
Cumbria Police describe Appleby Fair as the county's "biggest event in the county for policing." During the days of the fair the town – which has a resting population of around 3,000 – receives around 30,000 to 40,000 additional visitors.
Left: Romani Gypsies gather at a spot on the banks of the River Eden called The Sands to wash their horses before presenting them to potential buyers. Right: A horse is trotted on the 'flashing lane' as a display for potential buyers.
Top left: Without a budget from ticket sales, facilities at the fair have always been a challenge, from sanitation (top left) to litter (top right). Revelry centres around the town's pubs, and many residents – such as David (bottom right) have a panoramic view of all that ensues over the long weekend.
The spectacles of horse racing and showmanship – both bareback and carriage racing – has been a traditional element of Appleby Fair for decades.
A traditional bow-top wagon sits on a trailer as its owners leave Appleby for another year. Head Gypsy Billy Welch describes the atmosphere of Appleby as 'God's country... when you're there you get the sense your ancestors are there with you.'
Wooden stakes placed as a deterrent to visitors wishing to park on the side of the road and put horses to graze.
Gamblers gather around a card game and bet on which card is the Queen. Faro Pharaoh, or Farobank, is a late 17th-century French card game popular amongst Gypsies, who gamble on the game. It later spread across to the Atlantic where it was often played in Old West saloons. This particular game saw one of the participants lose £200 in less than 5 minutes.
Using a traditional Romani swing-skillet, a man tends a campfire at an encampment at Appleby Fair. Music and dancing often begin late at night and can still be heard as the sun rises.
The fire service attend a caravan fire at Appleby Fair. The fire was the source of local speculation, but no cause was determined.