Monument record 2416/46 - Oundle Fair

{1}Though it is likely that there was an earlier fair in Oundle, the first reference is in 1267-8 when the Abbot received the right to hold a 15 day fair annually on the feast of Ascension. This fair must be assumed always to have been held in the market place and the other streets of the town, as must have been the case in all the towns in the medieval period. It is clear that by 1471-2 the fair was being held for just a single day, on the Monday in Holy week. Following his purchase of the manor of Oundle, in 1552 Lord Russell received a grant of two fairs in Oundle in addition to the ancient fair. They were to be held on the eve, day and morrow of St. Lawrence the Martyr and of St. Valentine. For the new fairs the inhabitants of Oundle were to be quit of stallage, picage, customs etc pertaining to the fairs for all beasts and merchandise they bought and sold there. In 1720 these three fairs, on St. Valentines day, Whit Monday and the 10th August were still being held. In 1849 fairs for horses, sheep and cows were still held on the 25th February and Whit Monday and a new fair for all sorts of stock and cheese on the 12th October but by this time the fair on the 21st August had fallen into disuse. In the 1930s a horse fair was still held on the 25th February and on the 12th October.

{2}1268 Ascension Fair and 1552 fairs of St lawrence and St Valentine.

<1> Foard G.; Ballinger J.;, 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Oundle, 3.5.2 The Fair (Report). SNN102637.

<2> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (Report). SNN103118.

Record last edited

Apr 21 2008 11:56AM