Monument record 1842/4 - St James' Fair

The medieval fair was held within the town, but the exact location/s unknown.

{2} In 1226 Baldwin de Vere received a grant of a fair on the eve and day of St. Michael (29th September). This was confirmed and a second fair granted, to Robert de Veer, in 1244-5 for three days on eve, feast and morrow of St. James the Apostle (25th July). Only one fair probably continued to be held by the 14th century because the profits of just one are recorded in 1336. The fair is mentioned again in 1594 and in 1706. This may have been the fair on the feast of St. James as that is the only one mentioned by Bridges in circa 1720. However in 1849 a large fair was still being held on the first Tuesday after Michaelmas, another on the first Tuesday in May, for shoes and pedlary etc, while another had been held on the 5th August but this had fallen into disuse despite attempts to revive it. In the 1930s the same two fairs were still being held.

{3} 1245 fair of St James continued in 1849.

<1> 1781 (circa), Thrapston Inclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100461.

<2> Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Thrapston (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100460.

<3> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix (unchecked) (Report). SNN103118.

Record last edited

Mar 11 2015 6:16PM