St Giles Fair Oxford | Baamboozle - Baamboozle | The Most Fun Classroom Games!

🚂 People once travelled to the fair from as far away as Birmingham and Cardiff. True or false?

TRUE! In Victorian times, special excursion trains brought visitors into Oxford.

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banana

Go to last place!

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rocket

Go to first place!

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gift

Win 10 points!

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thief

Give points!

Which bizarre attraction really appeared at the Victorian fair? A) Performing fleas B) Racing snails C) Dancing worms

A — performing fleas! They were mentioned in an account of the 1889 fair.

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In the 1700s St Giles' was called a "toy fair". DId that mean it mainly sold children's toys?

Not exactly! "Toy” could mean small, cheap or useful goods, rather than just toys as we understand them today.

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Why did the fair get much bigger during Victorian times?

Better transport brought more visitors, while advances in mechanical engineering produced bigger and more exciting rides.

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🕰️ How old is St Giles’ Fair? A) 100 years B) 250 years C) 400+ years

400 + years

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How long does the modern fair last?

Only two days! It runs Monday 7 September and Tuesday 8 September.

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🌍 Has the fair happened every single year for the last 400 years?

No. One major interruption came during World War II, when the fair paused for several years.

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seesaw

Swap points!

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seesaw

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fairy

Take points!

baam

Lose 20 points!

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lifesaver

Give 20 points!

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fairy

Take points!

gift

Win 10 points!

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banana

Go to last place!

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What could an ordinary visitor challenge someone to do at the 1899 fair?

Box! A boxing booth advertised fighters who were ready to spar with members of the public. 🥊

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🦁 In 1889, approximately how many animals did one St Giles’ Fair menagerie claim to have? A) 50 B) 200 C) 500

C — 500! The list included lions, tigers, leopards, bears, wolves and ostriches. 😳

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What dangerous-looking entertainment could visitors see in 1889?

Champion shooters firing at fruit placed on a woman's head! Victorian fairground entertainment was rather different from today's…

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🎪 Some fairground families have been coming to St Giles for how long — 10, 50 or 100+ years?

100+ years! One showman family, theHebborns, first attended in 1883, and fairground pitches have traditionally been handed down through families.

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