Photos of British revellers at the Great Dorset Steam Fair
- Text by Huck
- Photography by Theo McInnes
Every summer since 1969, around 200,000 people descend on the sleepy village of Tarrant Hinton for the Great Dorset Steam Fair. The five-day event takes place over 600 acres, and usually consists of exhibits of traction engines, tractors and farm machinery. There are also sections for classic cars and commercial vehicles, working shire horses, rustic crafts, along with many other curious displays.
Photographer Theo McInnes attended the event last year to document the festivities and the colourful characters in attendance. “The vibe was strange: lots of big, drunk tattooed men looking at tanks and race cars,” recalls McInnes. “It was like going to a festival that was purely for farmers and war-enthusiasts.” McInnes’s vibrant photos show men staring at monster tanks, clutching pints and driving tractors, and children playing on the rides in the blazing hot sun. McInnes says there was also a “good element of family fun to it”, with “lots of kids and happy families” milling around, adding that “It felt quintessentially British”.
With the exception of three years of closure due to Covid-19, the Dorset Steam Fair has taken place annually. This year, however, the event has been cancelled due to rising costs, calling into question the future of large-scale events in the face of inflation. In this context, McInnes photos – which offer an intriguing snapshot of contemporary Britain – might be seen as preserving a tradition with a precarious future.
Follow Theo McInnes on Instagram.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Vintage photos of London street life at the turn of the millennium
London 1995-2005 — In her new photobook, Joan Piekny reflects on a decade shooting the styles and subcultures of the UK capital’s streets, just before technology .
Written by: Miss Rosen
Princess Julia: “I always state my age as I can’t believe I’m still around”
First lady — As the latest Artist-In-Residence of Huck 83, the London nightlife legend speaks to Josh Jones and provides a few recommendations and words of wisdom.
Written by: Josh Jones
A luminous portrait of Black life over six decades
Shared Memories — As staff photographer for The New York Times, Chester Higgins captured Black culture and spiritual connection like no other. A new exhibition celebrates his life and impact.
Written by: Miss Rosen
A tender portrait of life and ritual from Mexico City’s streets
Órale — For the last six years of his life, photographer, collector and designer Michel Hurst documented death rituals, street life and religious pageantry in contemporary Mexico. A new monograph showcases his work.
Written by: Roxana Diba
In photos: Washington DC’s Black communities facing up to gentrification
A Language We Share — A new exhibition featuring the work of Beverly Price and Gordon Parks preserves historically Black neighbourhoods in the USA, before development and economic forces made them disappear.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The London passport picture studio that became an unexpected repository of 20th century stars
Passport Photo Service — From Mick and Bianca Jagger to Muhammad Ali and Poly Styrene, the unassuming Oxford Street store was frequented by hundreds of musicians, actors, artists and more over its 70 years of operation.
Written by: Miss Rosen
