A new acquisition by Black Country Living Museum’s resident fairground is set to delight visitors from this weekend.

With a history of over 130 years, the spectacular Jubilee Steam Gallopers bring a bright and colourful new experience to the exciting collection, complete with a magnificent mechanical Gavioli music organ. The ride will bring the sights and sounds of the historic fairground to life in a fitting way for its new home at the award-winning living museum in Dudley.

The historic fairground at the popular attraction is owned, conserved, and operated by Alex Hyman and his family. An independently run fair within the museum, proceeds raised by the fairground go directly into restoring and collecting historic rides, sideshows and games. Hyman acquired the historic steam gallopers from Joby Carter of Carter’s Steam Fair in February, finally moving them to Dudley in early May. He is now the ninth owner of the ride in its 130 year history – while it has gone through changes in its past, it currently looks and operates very much how it would have when the first owner bought it brand new. The family take great pride and care in preserving and celebrating this colourful chapter of history.

Hyman has been able to take on a significant part of the Carter’s collection, which ceased touring in 2024. When talking about the acquisitions, Hyman said: “We are very proud to have kept a large proportion of the original Carters steam fair collection together. John and Anna Carter set out in 1976 with their passion to create a complete vintage travelling fairground using nothing but authentic rides, vehicles and living accommodation. [Many of Carter’s attractions] have stayed together in my ownership along with my own collection of rides including the Supersonic Jets and juvenile boat ride that for many years helped complete the Carters steam fair line up.”

During the rebuild of the ride at the museum, Alex was joined by Joby Carter himself to lend a hand with finishing touches. On the ride’s new home, Carter said “as much as you can love an inanimate object, I love this ride, and I always will. It’s the last ride I sold because it needed to go to the right home. This one wasn’t about money, it was about trying to get it to the right owner. I know Alex will love it and look after it, and I look forward to seeing its future… now it’s time for the Hymans to keep it entertaining the public here at Black Country Living Museum”.

The ride was built by Tidmans of Norwich in 1895. It consists of 30 wooden horses and two chariots with bench seats. The distinction between the gallopers and an American carousel is in the direction the ride revolves – the clockwise rotation of the gallopers is said to have allowed for ladies to sit side saddle facing outwards, meaning they could show off their fine clothes to onlookers, compared to the anti-clockwise direction of carousels.

Throughout its history the ride opened to the public every year, up until the Covid-19 pandemic saw it pause operating in 2020. The ride was even used throughout the war years as part of the Government’s holidays at home scheme, where showmen who had been too old to enlist opened small fairs across the country to keep up morale in challenging times. Of course, these fairs only opened during the daytime due to blackout restrictions!

Matthew Cowpe, Head of Collections & Interpretation at the museum, said: “We are delighted with the addition of the Jubilee Steam Gallopers as part of the fairground here at the Black Country Living Museum. It is really inspiring to see this historic attraction cared for and brought back to the main stage. I am sure it will evoke strong memories and feelings for everyone who comes to take a ride.”

The ride will be open from Saturday 17 May, with its first weekend in operation bringing delight to those visiting for the museum’s groovy 1960s Weekend.