Nostalgia Saturday AUGUST 03 - For Pages 6 to 7 - Use 9 pic 300 word template

Text for Saturday Spread on fairgrounds

Headline: Fairground thrill rides hold their appeal for teenagers who scream to go faster

Strapline: Land development for housing and industry makes it harder to find suitable

locations to set up the Waltzer and Astroglide

PART of the enjoyment of summer for many Furness youngsters is a trip to the fairground - either at a traditonal travelling event, or at one of the big permanent sites such as the Plasure Beach at Blackpool.

Today's pictures provide a sample of the fun enjoyed through the years as people try out the thrill rides and test their skills on the stalls which have been up at carnivals, fetes and festivals.

The Mail, on August 8 in 1994, noted: "Barrow's annual funfair returns this year with more rides than ever.

"Last year the fair was based in the car park behind the town hall after councillors decided noise from the fair would disturb nearby residents at Sandy Gap, Walney.

"But this year it has returned triumphantly to Sandy Gap. It is open daily from 1pm to 10pm and boasts seven rides."

The big attraction for 1994 by Taylor's Cumbria Amusements was a superslide called the Astroglide.

In 2002 the docklands hosted one of the biggest fairs to be seen in the town as part of the Barrow Festival of the Sea.

The Mail, on August 20, noted: "Thousands of party goers jumped on rides, slides and ghost trains as the funfair proved a big success.

"Visitors, many arriving straight from the food stands, bravely took on some of the stomach-turning rides.

"Most impressive were those who allowed themselves to be slung hundreds of feet above the docks in a metal cage in an upside down bungee ride.

"Teenagers on numerous rides screamed to go faster."

Many of the traditional sites in South Cumbrian towns have been built on for housing or employment - leaving fairs struggling to find a site which is both easy for people to get to and far enough away from built-up residential areas.

Up to the Second World War, country towns in Cumbria would have twice-yearly hiring fairs which would be supported by market traders and fairground rides.

These events attracted young man and women looking to be hired as farm workers, or domestic servants.

Fairground families such as the Taylors, Scotts and Emersons were among those coming regularly to Barrow from the time it was born, taking advantage of the railways to move equipment while they travelled by horse-drawn caravan.