The Big Burton Carousel Trail

Following on from the success of Burton Swans in 2020, we’re going bigger! This time, 30 sculptures of galloping horses, like the ones we know and love from funfair carousels, will make up a free, interactive sculpture trail for everyone to explore and enjoy around Burton upon Trent.

Everyone loves a merry-go-round, but the classic fairground carousel has a very special place in the history and heritage of Burton upon Trent. It was in our town that local craftsmen George Orton and Charles Spooner came together to design and produce some of the world’s best fairground rides and showmen’s caravans from the 1890s to the 1950s. They had an unrivalled reputation and their exceptional artistry and engineering work sits at the heart of fairground history.