FASCINATING photographs show how the Appleby Horse Fair has evolved over the years and turned into a world-famous event.
Pictures dating as far back as the 1930s show some of the thousands of people who flocked to the annual horse fair in the Cumbrian market town.
26
Travellers gather with their family around a camp fire at Appleby Horse Fair in June 1934Credit: Mirrorpix
A large group, including children and babies, posed for a photograph around a fire at the fair.
The event now attracts thousands of travellers each year and a collection of images document its remarkable transformation.
Young men are seen in a series of black-and-white images riding their horses during the popular fair.
Crowds continued to grow throughout the 1970s, 80s, 90s and 00s - with some 30,000 travellers expected to attend the event this week.
The fair is still primarily for people wanting to buy and sell horses however thousands flock to Appleby-in-Westmorland to simply enjoy the festivities.
The earliest record of the fair is in a charter from Henry II, dating from the 12th century, but it is believed to have been a longer tradition than that.
Here we take a look in pictures at how the festival has evolved over the centuries...
26
Farriers are seen hard at work shoeing horses at the now-infamous Appleby fair in the 1930sCredit: Rex Features
26
A young boy rides his horse through the Cumbrian market town in this undated black-and-white photograph
26
The annual event, seen here in the 1970s, dates back to the 12th century and attracts 30,000 visitorsCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
An elderly traveller peers through the ornately etched window of her motor home in Appleby in the 1970sCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
Travellers are seen embroiled in a discussion at the annual event in the 1970sCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
Starting them young! Kids push their belongings across the fields of Appleby in Cumbria ready for a fair in the 1970sCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
A woman pauses for a cup of tea in the 1970s during the hectic four-day festival, which runs annually from June 7 to June 10Credit: Getty - Contributor
26
A young boy tucks into some food and drink during a break from the festivities in the 1970sCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
The sellers race and ride their horses up and down a main road to allow prospective buyers to assess their form and fitness. Pictured: A Piebald horse and its gypsy cart trot passengers through the town in the 1970sCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
The annual horse fair has always attracted crowds from far and wide, even back in the 1980s, pictured, when travellers would spend days making their way to CumbriaCredit: Rex Features
26
Visitors watch the horses in action in this snap from the 1980sCredit: Rex Features
26
A farrier goes to work before the cut throat business of horse trading begins at Appleby Horse Fair in the 1990sCredit: Rex Features
26
Travellers enjoy a sing-song at the annual horse fair in Cumbria in 1996Credit: Rex Features
Travellers try to cool off their horse in the River Eden during a muggy festival on June 6, 1997Credit: North News and Pictures
26
For many, the fair is a primary opportunity to trade horses. Pictured: A traveller and his animal on Gypsy Hill in Appleby in the 1990sCredit: Rex Features
26
By the 1990s, pictured, Appleby Horse Fair had picked up quite the following with thousands flocking to the Cumbrian market town to take partCredit: Rex Features
26
Over the years, the travellers caravans have evolved from small carts to larger mobile homes. This caravan was taken to the fair in the 1990sCredit: Getty - Contributor
26
The buying and selling of horses at the fair - pictured here in 1996 - is done by cash-in-hand transactionsCredit: Rex Features
26
The fair, dating back to the 12th century, is now a world-renowned event and is expected to attract 30,000 people this year. Pictured: A traveller preparing for this year's eventCredit: Guzelian
26
The 2018 crowd are primed and ready for another week of fun and frolicking - with the fair officially kicking off on Thursday. Pictured: A traveller leads his horses along the A35 in Clapham, North Yorkshire, en route to the festival groundCredit: Guzelian
26
Travellers are already arriving for the annual event this year as the horse-drawn carriages make their way to the world famous fairCredit: Guzelian
26
Thomas White from Rochdale, Lancashire, attends to his horse `Puzzle' at the side of the A65Credit: Guzelian
26
Callum Gray from Rossendale, Lancashire, looks after his steed named 'Beauty' ahead of the eventCredit: Guzelian
26
Jamie Horton from Telford, Shropshire, was also snapped among the caravans ahead of the events kick off on Thursday.Credit: Guzelian
26
Paul Harrison from Rochdale, Lancashire, gives his horse 'Bill Bob' a peck on the noseCredit: Guzelian
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
