3-028-781 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lincoln Horse Fair, 1870. 'The annual fair at Lincoln is fixed by ancient charter to begin on the Tuesday of the last whole week in April; but the business usually commences on the Monday, or even on the Saturday before. This is more especially the case with the better class of horses offered for sale in the stables and yards. The supply at the late fair was not so large as in former years, and consisted less of horses bred in Lincolnshire than of such as were brought from distant parts of the kingdom by railway. There were twenty Prussian horses, by English sires; but most of those which claimed attention by their superior merit were from Ireland, or of Irish breed; and many Irish dealers were present willing to buy. The trade, however, was not very brisk, and the prices were little above those fetched last year; but nearly all the good carriage-horses, hunters, riding-horses, and ponies were sold by the Monday evening; and the cart-horses had their turn next day. Our Illustration, from a sketch taken on the spot, affords a good notion of the scene at the horse fair'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.