About Us

Our History

Our family history is long and there are a few branches off that also went into the Fairground life so to save confusion we shall focus on the current line that operates today.

The Story of Harris’s Old Tyme Amusements can be traced back 6 generations to John Harris of Cuckfield. Known as Jack, he was born in Waldron, East Sussex in 1833. In 1855, he married Mary Matilda Light at Hellingly church and they went on to have 10 children. In 1875, John was listed as a “Coconut Man” but soon travelled a pony powered Swing out Roundabout as well.

In the 1880’s, John had it converted to Steam power by Thomas Walker of Tewkesbury. This is one of the first Steam Roundabouts to be travelled in Sussex.  He also purchased a brand new Burrell SCC Showmans Engine  to travel the ride from fair to fair taking over from the horses previously used. This too was one of the first Burrells to go to a showman.

Some years after, the ride was converted into a full set of Gallopers which he travelled accompanied by a Savage Switchback. The Gallopers eventually passed on to his son Fredrick when John purchased another set of Gallopers. After his death, these passed on to another son, Christopher Harris who also travelled them. The Switchback being sold to Fred Grey.  

Ashington

In 1901, John unfortunately died and later in 1902 his son, Frederick Harris, came to Ashington and purchased a plot of land on the outskirts of the Village where our family are still based today.

The fairground business was continued and the family travelled the fair in very much the same area as the family do today; this being mostly West and East Sussex with a little bit of Hampshire, Surrey and Kent visited too.  With war looming, Fred’s sons were called up to war and during this time, the Gallopers were sold off.   

The South Down Gallopers

The younger generation returned from active service in the Great War (where, thanks to their life experience driving steam engines, they drove railway locos for troop and munitions trains) and in 1921, Fred and his sons bought the parts to build a set of gallopers. Some parts were sourced but most were made locally or in our yard at Ashington.

Of the 30 horses on the new ride, 21 were made by Lines Brothers (the well known manufacturers that eventually turned into Tri-Ang) and the outside row, which are unique as their ears go backwards as if the horse is galloping at speed, were made by a small factory firm called Smiths of London. Also, 2 carved wooden dragon chariots were made in Guildford by local craftsmen as well as all the carved work on the rounding boards. A local village blacksmith made all the metal work for the ride and the step boards were made from a tree felled from Wiston Estate, who’s trunk had grown to the same curve as was required, making the grain curve with the ride!

Being built in Sussex, in the shadow of the South Downs, it was only fitting to name the new ride the South Down Galloping Horses and it has often been said that throughout their whole life, only really a handful of times have they ever been opened in such a place that the South Downs could not be seen!

The Gallopers were travelled with 2 Garrett Showmans engines along with all the usual side shows, coconut shy, various games and of course, the Swing boats but in 1933, a new Noah’s Ark ride was purchased from the Royal Olympia show in London, along with a second hand Burrell Showmans Engine to pull and power it. The fair carried on in this way until the Gallopers were displaced by a set of Dodgems that, again, were built by the family. The Gallopers went in to storage at this point.  

Post-War Times

The Ark and Dodgems survived through the 2^nd World War but due to the post war influx of army surplus sales making ex-war dept 4 wheel drive petrol and deisel engine lorries cheaper to buy, the Steam Engines were soon put aside in favour of AEC Matadors and FWD’s.

The Steam Engines were sold to Hardwicks of Ewell for scrap in 1958 but happily the steam preservation movement caught them in time and many of them survive.

In 1968, the Gallopers were removed from storage and restored back into use where they have been in use ever since.  In 1969, Fred Harris passed away leaving the business to be run by the Harris Brothers who still run it today, Fred, Douglas, Robert, John and Ted (unfortunately Fred and Douglas have now passed).

The original set of dodgems were sold off and in 1986, the family bought the Chair-o-planes. These were shortly followed in 1988 by a set of Lang Wheels dodgems.

In 2001, due to the Foot and Mouth Crisis the Dodgems and the Ark were taken off the road and placed in storage where they remain to this day. In 2005, we also purchased the Paratrooper ride we operate.

After over 140 years travelling a Fairground around Sussex, through deaths, depressions, World Wars, global pandemics and heavy legislation, we are still doing what we have always done, in almost the same way we have always done it (even if the motive power has somewhat changed).  

Our 5^th and 6^th generations are taking active roles in the business and though things may seem to be stacked against us in these modern times, we aim to keep on travelling and providing some welcome joy and amusement for all the many children and adults of Sussex for as long as we can with your support behind us.

Fairground Artwork

Our present rides have a lot of John’s artwork on them including the top half of the chair-o-planes and the paybox for the dodgems.