[ Found at  http://www.cornishlight.freeserve.co.uk/textgds.htm ]

The Great Dorset Steam Fair -- a truely Great Work of Steam

Keywords: Showmans engines, heavy horses, rural crafts, vintage
working tractors, steam ploughing, agricultural bygones, shire horses,
rural crafts, Country Britain

Run over 6 days, the Fair attracts over 250,000 visitors to the Rolling
Dorset Downs at Tarrant Hinton, 5 miles outside of Blandford Forum,
Dorset, and as such is the biggest event of its kind in Western Europe.

For lovers of all things rural, of steam, the countryside, who are
curious to see how it was done in 'granfers day', or just after a
great day out, Great Dorset is the place to go.

1999 is the 31st Great Working.  Every year the dusk line-up of
Showmans Engines is something special.  This years, with up to 100
engines in attendance, will be indeed be fabulous.  The melodic
whirring of the flywheels, the hiss of steam, the hoot hoot of the
whistles, the steam and smoke hanging low in the air of a balmy late
summers evening.

Want to buy a seat for a 1930 Fordson Standard, or even a showmans
engine for that matter, or see the Penny Rigden Dancing Girls perform
an open air Can Can, or listen to a 110 Key Gavioli Scenic Organ?  Then
see you at this years Great Dorset.  I will be there, will you?

The fair is held during the late August Bank Holiday week; expect a
queue to get in, and to get dusty shoes.  But that's part of the fun!