1922 Burrell showman’s engine makes historic journey

A 1922 Burrell engine roaded a set of gallopers to the Whitwell Steam & Country Fair in June. Simon Colbeck covered this historic event.

It was a beautiful June Sunday afternoon the team from the Saunders Collection had chosen for taking the Collection’s gallopers the 15 miles from Letchworth to Codicote, south of Stevenage. With Alex and Harrison Haslett-Saunders on the footplate of Burrell showman’s No. 3890 Majestic hauling the gallopers and living van, the engine made light work of the undulating nature of the route.

Majestic was completed in 1922 for JH Herbert of Southampton. The 7nhp engine was well known in the Dorset and Hampshire area working for Herbert’s until around 1940 when it was laid up. It was sold by Herbert’s in 1952 and after several owners became part of the Saunders collection in 1999. After the completion of a major overhaul in 2015 Majestic has been a reliable member of the Saunders fleet, regularly seen generating at local events.

The gallopers were originally owned by Jack Harris of Cuckfield, Sussex. Starting life as a pony roundabout they were later rebuilt as a steam set by Thomas Walker of Tewkesbury. On 10 of the sections were horses, but on two, gondolas hung from the top frame. A clue to this work may lie in the centre in the ride, which is classically Savage, with four rotating pillars featuring carved king’s heads, linked to a chain mechanism originally turned by the organ engine. A newspaper dated 1897 was found behind the mirrors on the centre drum, and as Savages supplied an organ engine, No. 717, to Jack Harris in 1898, this would suggest a possible date for the rebuild.

When Jack Harris died in 1901 the ride passed to his son Chris Harris who continued to travel the Sussex area. It may have been travelled for a while by J Macklin of Canterbury, but shortly after the Great War it was recorded in the ownership of Frank Davis of Bexhill.

In 1928 the gallopers were sold to James Botton of Green Street Green in Kent. By this time dummy motor cars had replaced the gondolas. James Botton died in 1938, and in 1942 the family sold the ride to London showman, Alfred Beadle. Its first opening in his ownership was on Mitcham Common at Easter 1943. Reports show that in December 1945 the ride was owned by Ted Harris of Bristol.

The ride had, literally, gone a full circle as Ted was the grandson of the original owner. He travelled the ride around the Bristol area, first opening Bath in April 1946. During 1949 it was advertised for sale, and was sold to Cradley Heath showman, Jack Jones, of Jones Brothers. It was open at Aston Whit Fair in 1950. Jones did not keep the ride long, and by the early 1950s it was owned by Con Studt. From Studt it passed to Rose Brothers of Chertsey who opened it at Chessington Zoo, where it remained for about 20 years.

At the end of the 1975 season the machine was pulled down and taken out of Chessington. It spent several years in store at Rose’s depot, but in 1979 it was advertised for sale and acquired by Ron Harris. Of the mounts there are 24 double-seaters and 12 singles on the inside row. Some of the double-seaters, probably from the Anderson stable, have heads carved into the rear of the horse’s body. The ride eventually passed into the Saunders Collection, via the late Jack King of Stotfold who had purchased it from Ron Harris.

The sight of Majestic hauling a box van, engine centre and living van faithfully recreated the days of a travelling fun fair moving from one site to another with steam power. The route from Letchworth via Ickleford and Hitchin included some good uphill sections, particularly around the Hitchin ring road, and provided plenty of opportunity to hear the distinctive bark of a Burrell road locomotive doing what it does best!

With thanks to Alex and Harrison Haslett-Saunders and Steve Smith for the galloper’s history.

This feature comes from the latest issue of Old Glory, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE