Walton Pier, Walton-on-the-Naze

Built in 1898 by Savages, this ride arrived at Walton Pier in 1948. Since then the ride has been modified extensively. The Pier had a major refurbishment in 1997, but the Gallopers survived, and are still entertaining visitors to Walton Pier over 50 years after they were first presented there. What better tribute could there be to the continuing appeal of the traditional Gallopers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since 1985, however, it has been resident at the West Midland Safari Park. It was extensively rebuilt in 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The centre of this set of gallopers features a modern Alan Pell showman's organ, similar to the type of organ that would have featured on these rides in the early part of the last century.

 

 

 

 

Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth

This Savages 47-foot diameter, 3-abreast Gallopers set arrived on the park with the Botton Brothers in 1954. Built in 1914/15 for Charles Cain of Deptford, it was called the "Colonial Galloping Horses". Many of the horses are reputedly the carved originals, and the centre engine is still in place, although not used to power the ride. This 36 horse set holds pride of place by the entrance to the park.

 

 

The Village Experience, Fleggburgh

 

 

 

 

 

The ride is unusual in that it does not have gallopers-style rounding boards. The rounding boards resemble those on a chairoplane, and were based on a set of 'scenic' rounding boards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also at The Village is a small collection of children's amusements set out on a mock village green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included as part of this line-up is this delightful juvenile dobby set.

At Flambards Theme Park, Helston, Cornwall, is a small juvenile European carousel, which travels in a clockwise direction as an English galloper would.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ride, called the Swiss Steam Carousel, is located in a small tent. Although the ride is dated 1889, it is a relatively modern machine.

New Pleasurewood Hills, Lowestoft

Oakwood Leisure Park, Narberth

One for the young ones! Oakwood Park in Pembrokeshire is home to a number of major white knuckle rides, but has an area set aside especially for children. This small carousel has detailing straight out of a comic book! The carousel has a false steam engine in its centre, and a cartoon-like chimney on its top.

 

Symonds Yat West Leisure Park

 

 

 

 

 

This set was built in approximately 1924 and is the only surviving set built by by John Allen. Much of the ride is still original, but the colourful horses are fibreglass reproductions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From 1931, the ride was operated by the Arnold Brothers in the South Coast of England, before passing to Charles Manning in the 1950s. The ride was then moved to Butlin's at Minehead, where it remained for many years. The organ in the centre of the ride, pictured to the left, is a modern replacement.

 

 

 

 

 

Much of the centre pictured here is believed to be original.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other modifications include fibreglass rounding boards and steel steps, although the platform, and much of the rest of the ride's structure, are believed to be original. The ride is still popular with families visiting this beauty spot, and is located next to a vintage set of Hurricane Jets, a Twist and Dodgems.

Alton Towers, Staffordshire

Folly Farm, Begelly

A happy ending for one of the rides featured earlier in this Exhibition! Folly Farm is a huge indoor funfair, with operating rides including an Ark, Chair-o-planes, Caterpillar, Ghost Train, Dodgems, Skid and numerous juveniles. At the very centre of this vintage collection is this fine set of Gallopers.

 

 

 

 

This was Savages' last set of Gallopers, which had operated at Clarence Pier, Southsea from 1954 until 1997. All of the horses on this ride, except one, are the carved wooden originals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ride was purchased by Folly Farm from John H. Rundle Ltd (which had taken the ride in part exchange from Clarence Pier) in 1999, and has been the centrepiece of this excellent Welsh tourist attraction ever since. Here's to its next eighty years!