In 1997 the old Chipping Village Hall was in desperate need of a replacement and the village had to start fundraising for a new build. A family fun day was organised with lots of different events taking place all around the village including street stalls and a car boot sale. Mary Harrison BEM came up with the idea of gathering together a few classic vehicles owned by some of the locals and congregating on the Talbot Public House car park. That first year there were only a handful of exhibitors such a sports car,  two vintage tractors, a stationary engine, one commercial vehicle and half a dozen old motorbikes. There were a few small stalls to accompany the vehicles such as a toy stall and a blacksmith with his anvil who offered to marry couples in exchange for a donation towards the village hall fund.
 
 All proceeds from Chipping Steam Fair go to local good causes and charities. This has been the case since the show started all those years ago and drives the committee and its supporters to make each fair a success.