Steampunks flock to King's Lynn for a bizarre bazaar

Fans of the fiction genre and associated subculture, which celebrates 'retro-futuristic' technology inspired by the age of steam, flocked to St Nicholas' Chapel in King's Lynn for a bizarre bazaar.

Beards, hats, corsets and outlandish goggles (with the odd fake revolver thrown in) were de rigueur. 

Steampunks flocked to the bazaar at St Nicholas' Chapel in King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop)

The event featured a craft market selling jewellery, decorated bottles,  customised corsets and second-hand costumes.

It drew steampunks from as far afield as Hull and Chatteris, in the  Cambridgeshire Fens.

WHY DO THEY DO IT?

Mike and Vicky Dixon were dressing up for the first time (Image: Chris Bishop) Mike and Vicky Dixon, from Downham Market, were dressing up for the first time to sell elaborately decorated bottles.

"It's our first event," said Mrs Dixon. "I've been following it for quite a time online and thought 'why not?'"

Mr Dixon added: "It's my first do, it's the first time I've dressed up,  everybody seems really friendly."

Vicky Dixon with her decorated bottles (Image: Chris Bishop) Andy and Elaine Riley, from Chatteris, have been steampunks since 2018.

"We saw some steampunks when we were in Whitby," said Mr Riley.

"We asked them what was going on and thought it looked like a bit of fun, so off we went."

Andy and Elaine Riley on their stall selling artworks (Image: Chris Bishop) Fellow punk Tom Ward became involved in 2017 after attending a steampunk meet-up.

"The people are friendly and have a good time," he said. "They drink gin, eat cake, have a laugh - what could be better?"

Steampunk Tom Ward, from King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop) David Yeeles, from Ramsey, became a convert four years ago.

"I'd always been interested in the genre," he said. "It was the chance to start dressing up and meeting like-minded people."

David Yeeles, from Ramsey, was on the door in his red bowler hat (Image: Chris Bishop) Deborah Bibb, from Lynn, was having her makeup done by her daughter Elizabeth.

"My husband and I started about 2019, pre-Covid," she said. "We like getting dressed up and meeting people.

"It's just really good fun. Steampunks are a lovely, friendly bunch."

Deborah Bibb has her make-up done by daughter Elizabeth (Image: Chris Bishop) WHAT ELSE DO THEY GET UP TO?

Punks take their grooming as seriously as their accoutrements.

Steve Harris, from Lincoln, was selling his home-made preparations for the men to keep their facial hair in trim.

Steve Harris was selling beard and hair care products with his wife Kim (Image: Chris Bishop)

"If you look, a lot of steampunks have got some sort of beard," he said. "And you've got to look after your old mane."

The same goes for headgear, which punks also pride themselves on.

Beverly Copeman, from Upwell, was selling hats at the event (Image: Chris Bishop) And no gathering would be complete without games, such as the legendary tea battles, where competitors go cup to cup to see who can make a dunked biscuit last the longest before it crumbles.

Punk pong was also one of the must-try activities at the St Nicholas Chapel event. Those taking part had to bounce a ping pong ball down a table and land it in one of an array of hats.

It was hats off to Yvonne Crabtree, from Hull, in the punk pong competition (Image: Chris Bishop) After each successful throw, the winner got to pile on an extra hat until they resembled a cricket umpire.

A competitive corset lacing and an outfit contest were also on offer. 

WHAT INSPIRES THEM?

A 1902 print by Albert Robida, imagining air travel over Paris as people leave the opera in the year 2000 (Image: Public Domain) Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction which largely emerged in the 1980s. Inspired by the works of H G Wells, Jules Verne and Mary Shelley, it is highly-focused on steam power with a bit of fantasy and horror thrown in.

The movement even has a Norfolk link. After writing The Time Machine, War of the Worlds and Men in the Moon, H G Wells (1866 - 1946)  set up home with his lover Rebecca West in Hunstanton.

H G Wells pictured in 1890 (Image: Library of the London School of Economics) Their son Anthony Panther West was born in August, 1914, in one of the Victorian terrace houses on the resort's Victoria Avenue.