As some of you will know, Appleby Fair is one of the great gypsy horse fairs of England. There is a song called "Appleby Fair" and I know that a recording of it exists on one of the Musical Traditions CDs. I got a version of it some years ago from a great traveller singer from Durham called Matt Howard, which was different from the one on MT. Matt told me that it had been composed in the 50s. Does anyone have any more information on the song and its origins?

Incidentally, I went to Stow Fair recently, another great gypsy horse fair, but there was little singing as all the pubs close for the week. It seems to me a great shame that there is prejudice of this type against travellers when the rest of the UK population is being encouraged to take up round-the-clock binge drinking! (steps off soapbox.) What's the pub situation for Appleby Fair?

Gwilym

http://www.cmarge.demon.co.uk/gwilym/index.htm