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Young Travellers: Photos From Appleby Horse Fair

Photographer Lorenzo Roncaglione reports from the largest traditional Gypsy gathering in Europe.

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Every year in June, the small Cumbrian town of Appleby-in-Westmorland turns into a mecca of Gypsy and Irish Traveller horse culture. Roughly 10,000 Roma and Travellers gather in a cavalcade of cobs and gold to attend Appleby Horse Fair, along with 1,000 caravans, hundreds of horse-drawn vehicles, and 30,000 tourists.

The festival dates back to the 1700s—VICE photographers were there in 2012 and 2015—and is a place to show off, race, or trade horses and make merry in traditions without the shunning they’re typically met with. The event has not been without controversy in recent years: there are persistent complaints over litter, aggravation, and animal cruelty. Still, it’s the largest traditional Gypsy gathering in Europe, and a major celebration of a cultural identity still heavily marginalized more or less everywhere.

We caught up with Italian photographer Lorenzo Roncaglione about his trip to Appleby.

VICE: Hey Lorenzo, what was Appleby like?Lorenzo Roncaglione: I........

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