Farrar's Fun Fairs (Established 1876)
Biography
Farrars Fun Fairs was founded by Enoch Clifford Farrar in 1876. The Farrar family originated in Wakefield, South Yorkshire and presented fairs around the county.
In 1891, Farrar was living at 33 Silver Street in Doncaster, next to another northern fairground show family, the Lings. He married Isabella Ling on 31 January 1893 and had six children, however only two sons survived infancy.
In the early days, Enoch Farrar presented a mirror show and a fine art gallery. The latter was a kind of peep show which had a carved front.
In 1905 Enoch Farrar joined other pioneering showmen acquiring his first cinematograph show, which he travelled with his other portfolio of rides and amusements until 1912, when he replaced it for a bigger and more impressive one, which became the largest travelling the countryside.
After Enoch Farrar’s death in the 1930s his sons carried on the business, always keeping up-to-date with new attractions: Dodgems, Noah’s Arks, Waltzers, Mont Blancs and Moonrocket by the outbreak of the Second World War.
For most of the twentieth century the business was managed by John Farrar, who lived to 100 years old. After John’s death Farrar’s Fun Fairs passed to William Percival and the Percival family, who continue to carry the Farrar name in the twenty first century.
In the twenty first century, the firm operates popular adult rides such as a Dodgem track, a Waltzer, Sizzler Twist and a Miami ride and children’s rides of all types as well as a range of catering units.
Farrar is the only person in the UK to have a fair named after him, bestowed by the town of Rotherham in 1997.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1880 - 1939
Charles Taylor Collection
The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.
Orton and Spooner Collection
This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.
Oversize Fairground Posters Printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, c1974 - 1977
Fairground posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell, mainly for fairgrounds in Yorkshire, some presented by the Showmen's Guild Yorkshire Section.
Posters, c1937 - 1989
A collection of posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell for music hall and variety, circus, pantomime and fairgrounds.