A Way of Life: The People Behind St Giles Fair
Every year, St Giles, a wide road in Oxford city centre, becomes a fairground for two days. Scores of local people enjoy the thrilling rides, games of skill, and booths offering food and drink.
St Giles Fair has happened every September for centuries, only pausing for a few years during the Second World War. First documented in 1625, it began as a local parish feast, probably in the 12th century. It became a pleasure fair and a “great annual holiday for the working people of Oxfordshire” in the 1800s. The fair remains a hugely popular event today, a uniquely local way to mark the seasons.
The fair wouldn’t exist without those who bring it to town: highly skilled artists, performers, and ride operators. Many of them belong to the little-known, distinct community of showmen and women: a traveling people united by trade, culture and a way of life.
“A Way of Life” was a special photographic exhibition which put the spotlight on the people behind St Giles Fair. It was on display at the Museum of Oxford from July to October 2024. This digital exhibition includes the material from the exhibition as well as from comissioned work and events which formed part of the exhibition programme.
Please note: Throughout this digital exhibition, we spell the word ‘showmen’ with a lowercase ‘s’. We understand that some individuals within the community prefer to use the capitalised version of the noun. Our decision was guided by the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, who do not capitalise the word ‘showmen’.