THOUSANDS of people, and animals, from throughout a town all came together to visit a popular annual fair, which would only run for a few years longer.

Pictured here is Rawtenstall Cattle Fair held in 1898, also known as Rawtenstall May Fair, which was originally held on Tup Meadow.

Hobson Street and Alexandria Street now stand on the site, and since these streets were built in 1906, the market ceased soon after the picture was taken.

In the background St James-the-Less priests house and St James-the-Less School, which still stand in the area in Unity Way.

To the far right of the picture, houses on Burnley Road can be seen, which now forms the entrance to Elm Street.

Meanwhile in the distance on the photo stands the chapel in Rawtenstall cemetery, which now seats around 40 people.

The first burial at the cemetery took place in January 1877 and it currently holds more than 21,000 burials and covers around 17 acres.

Although the fair ceased soon after these days the town holds an annual fair which is held in Whitaker Park in Rawtenstall.

Hundreds of people turned out for the event this year, which featured clog dancing workshops, garden games, a Punch and Judy performance, stalls and traditional song, dialect and dance with members of the Lancashire Society.