A Brief History of Loughborough Fair

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A Brief History of Loughborough Fair

• By Justin Smith
• 25th March 2009

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Markets Fairs Staff
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A Brief introduction to Loughborough Fair

• Traditionally the ending to the travelling
  season, Loughborough has a special place in the
  hearts of the travelling show people.
  Loughborough commences on the second Thursday of
  November, dating back to a charter granted by
  Henry III in 1228. The fair was traditionally
  held on the Market Square, but now covers most of
  the town with showmen occupying major streets and
  spaces.
• According to The World's Fair reporter
  writing in 1949 "The People of Loughborough are
  very proud of their ancient Fair, dating back to
  the thirteenth century and held in the streets
  and squares of the town."
• Over the past seven centuries the
  relationship between the local people and the
  November fair has survived despite various
  attempts to move the festivities to the outskirts
  of the town. Like any Charter Fair, Loughborough
  has a rich and varied history and in the words of
  Henry Morley reveals the unwritten story of the
  history of the people. The original Charter was
  granted in 1221 and pertained to an annual event
  on the 31st of July. This was reaffirmed seven
  years later and extended to cover three days
  around the Feast of St Peter. A third Charter was
  further granted a year later in 1228 by Henry III
  to Hugh Le Despenser Lord of the Manor of
  Loughborough and related to the Feast of All
  Souls. The changes to the Calendar introduced in
  1752 resulted in the loss of eleven days and the
  date of the fair became the 13th of November.
  However, in 1881 local officials obtained an
  order to stipulate that the opening day of the
  Fair would always fall on the second Thursday in
  November and the date has since remained constant.

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A Brief introduction to Loughborough Fair

• The medieval fair was allied to the weekly
  Thursday Market which has also been granted by
  Henry III and many of the goods on sale reflected
  the trading nature of the original event. By the
  14th Century Loughborough had became associated
  with the buying and selling of cloth and wool and
  such was its fame as a Market town that it was
  mentioned as such on Saxton's map published in
  1576. Over the centuries two more fairs were
  granted and the 1783 edition of Owen's New Book
  of Fairs lists five separate fair including
  November 13 for the selling of horses cows and
  sheep. Despite the decline of trading fairs in
  other parts of the country during the mid
  nineteenth century, the November Fair continued
  to be associated with the sale of cattle on the
  opening Thursday. With the introduction of
  mechanisation and the impact of steam powered
  roundabouts on the fairground landscape, by the
  end of the century the beast market was gradually
  moved to other locations in the city and the
  dispensing of amusements became the main theme of
  the fair. Like many of the late Victorian steam
  fairs, the local people patronised the array of
  stalls, booths, mechanical wonders and shows to
  be found on display.

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A Brief introduction to Loughborough Fair

• The show families associated with
  Loughborough Fair from this period are still
  familiar to the present day fairgoers and include
  famous names such as Collins, Proctor, Hall,
  Richards and Holland. The arrival of cinema in
  the form of the bioscope in 1897 had been
  preceded by the annual visit of Wall's
  Phantoscope from the 1880s and the popularity of
  the shows continued in the twentieth century with
  Harry Hall's boxing booth, Sedgwick's lion show
  and Proctor's cinematograph. The 1913 fair
  featured rides such as Pat Collin's racing
  motors, gallopers by Harry Hall and Bolesworth
  and Richard's cake walk.
• Loughborough Fair like many of its
  counterparts was closed for the duration of the
  Great War and opened again after hostilities
  ceased. By the 1920s the showmen introduced the
  latest attractions to entice the local fairgoers
  with the arrival of the Globe of Death and the
  Wall of Death in 1929. However, the fair
  attracted its usual dissenters with some
  commentators describing "as a Fair with a mile of
  caravans" and "that it should be removed from our
  streets" with the now familiar argument over the
  disruption caused to motorists due to the loss of
  parking for the duration of the fair. The people
  of Loughborough remained loyal to the tradition
  of their street fair and this was reflected in
  the editorial that appeared in the Leicester Mail
  which stated "That most ancient form of
  diversion, the fair, is still attractive because
  it appeals to the people's robust sense of fun
  ... Thousands of people are attracted to the town
  to participate, much to their own and other
  people's enjoyment ... if they remove it from the
  centre of the town it would dwindle and decay as
  so many other fairs have done, and an old age
  channel that has brought grist to the town would
  be permanently closed. So Loughborough as a
  whole, is not only disposed to grin and bear it,
  but to welcome it somewhat in the spirit of the
  song that bids us Come to the fair.'"

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A Brief introduction to Loughborough Fair

• By the period leading up the Second World
  War, the fair settled back into its traditional
  routine with an average of twelve major rides
  attending every year including regular attendants
  such as the Collins', Proctor's and Holland
  families. Although The World's Fair reporter in
  1933 laments the decrease in side stuff, the
  report includes a multitude of spinners, wheel
  em'ins, sheets, and shooting saloons on offer
  presented by the Hall's, William's and Richard's
  family to name but a few. By 1933 the Ghost
  Train, Noah's Ark and the Dodgems were the
  dominant attractions at the fair with
  Shufflebottom's Wild West Show and Wood and
  Sketchley's boxing academy continuing the
  tradition of live entertainment.
• The 1940s saw the arrival of the Farrar
  family with their Waltzer and Dodgems standing
  alongside such familiar attractions presented by
  long term tenants such as the Collins family.
  Henry Armstrong and Sons Noah's Ark, Dodgems and
  Airways stood alongside Arthur Holland's Monte
  Carlo Rally and Moon Rocket in Bedford Square
  with the spinners retaining their popularity
  among the stall holders.
• By the 1950s the annual event has become one
  of the main fairs of the year for show people and
  locals alike with the World's Fair reporter
  commenting in 1955 that "On the stroke of twelve
  the Mayor declared the fair open and for three
  hectic days Loughborough lost its customary
  dignified character as the centre of the famous
  Quorn Hunt and gave itself up to the spirit of
  carnival ... The powers that be are to be
  congratulated on providing a really outstanding
  fair this year. The rides were far more varied
  while the introduction of fresh machines
  definitely attracted a lot of interest."

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A Brief introduction to Loughborough Fair

• The World's Fair reporter describes the 1955
  event as five fairs held in various fairs and
  linked together by stalls, games and juvenile
  machines in the streets adjoining. The
  attractions included John Farrarr's modern
  Waltzer, Charles Thurston's Skid and Henry
  Armstrong's Caterpillar and alloy Dodgems. Ten
  years later the fair underwent another change
  with the whole of the Market Place given over to
  amusements and resulting in the fair attaining
  greater prominence in the town centre. Over the
  following years the fair continued to adapt and
  develop in line with the improvements taking
  place on fairgrounds around the country as the
  show people continued to invest in new equipment
  and constantly providing the latest in high speed
  technology and innovation.
• The story of Loughborough historic
  association with its annual fair can be found in
  Loughborough Markets and Fairs by George W. Green
  and M. W. Green published in 1964. Over seven
  hundred or so years the fair has been the cause
  of dispute and merriment in equal measures, but
  the strong relationship that exists between the
  town people and the fair is emphasised by the
  authors when they paid the following tribute
  "The fun of the fair' is still very much in
  evidence and the November Pleasure Fair remains
  an occasion' in the local calendar and a time
  for family reunions."
• Loughborough also serves as a gathering
  point to the many fairground enthusiasts

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Some of the Royal Charter papers from 1221
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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC54/24

• LATIN TEXT
• De mercato de Luteburg
• Dominus Rex concessit Hugoni Dispenser quod
  habeat usque
• Ad etatem suam unum mercatum singulis septimanis
  per
• Diem Jovis apud manerium suum de Luteburg,Nisi
• Mercatum illud etcetera .Et mandatum est
  vicecomite
• Leics quod mercatum illud ei habere faciat,Teste
  ut supra. (Teste H,apud Turrim London xxii die
  Januarii).
• De feris de Lugteburg?
• Dominus Rex concessit Hugoni le Despenser quod
  habeat
• Usque ad etatem domini Regis unam feriam apud
• Manerium suum de Lugteburg singulis annis in
• Vigilia et in die sancti Petra ad vincula et
• Mandatum est vicecomitem Leicester quod feriam
• Illam ei habere faciat,Teste ut supra per eundem
• (Apud Westmonasterium xxxvii die Januarii anno
• Regni nostri v)

• TRANSLATION
• Of the Market Of Loughborough
• The lord the King grants to Hugh Dispenser that
• He have ,until his (Lawful ) age ,one market
  every
• Week, on Thursday, at his manor of Loughborough.
• Unless that market and the Sheriff of
  Leicestershire
• Is ordered to cause him to have that market.
• Of the Fair of Loughborough.
• The lord the King grants to Hugh le Dispenser
  that
• He have until the (lawful) age of the lord the
  King
• One fair at his manor of Loughborough every year
• In the vigil and in the day of St Peter ad
  Vincula
• And the Sheriff of Leicestershire is ordered to
  cause him
• To have that fair.Witness as above by the same
• (at Westminster,xxviith day of January in the
  fifth
• year of our reign

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/18

• LATIN TEXT
• Pro Hugo Dispensar Innovatur Alibi Cart.13 H.No
  .249 3m.13.
• Henricus dei gratia etcetra, Archiepiscopis,Episco
  pis etcetra
• Salutem,sciatis nos concessisse dilecto et fideli
  nustro Hugoni
• Dispensar quod ipse et heredes sui habeant et
  teneant in perpetuum unum
• Mercatum singulis septimanis per diem Jovis apud
  manerium suum de
• Lucteburg et quod habeant ibidem unam feriam
  singulis annis per tres dies
• Duraturam scilicet in virilla et in die et in
  crastino beati Petri ad
• Vincula ita tunc quod mercatum illud et feria
  illa non sint ad nocumentum
• Vicinorum mercatorium et vicinarum. Concessimus
  eciam eidem
• Hugonem quod ipse et herdes sui et homines sui de
  Lucteburg Burton
• Hukelescot Fretheby Erendesby sint imperpetum
  quieti de sectis
• Comitatis hundredo et de auxiliis vicecomitis
  et de visu franciplegio.
• Quare volumis et firmiter precepimus quod
  predicto Hogo et heredes sui

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/18

• LATIN TEXT
• Habeant et teneant predictum mercatum et
  predictam feriam libere quiete et
• Integrecum omnibus liberatibus et liberis
  consuetudinibus ad predictum
• Mercatum et predictam feriam pertinentibus et
  quod ipsi Hugo et heredes
• Sui et predicti homines sui de predictis villis
  de Lucteburg Burton
• HukelescotFretheby et Erendesby sint quieti de
  sectis comitatu
• Hundredo et de auxilliis vice comitis et de visu
  franceplegio imperpetuum
• Sicut predictum est Hiis Testibus
  E.LondonJ.Bath R.Sarr episcopis,
• H de Burg Justicio nostro Rand Comite Cestrie
  Lincoln Steph de
• Sedgrave Willelmo de Eyneford Ricardo de Argent
  Senescallis nostris
• Willelmo de Cantil Henrico de Capella et
  aliis,Datum ut supra apud
• Westmonasterium XII die Februarii anno etcetra XI

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/18

• TRANSLATION FORM PREVIOUS PAGES
• For Hugh Dispensar Renewed elsewhere Charter 13
  H.No.249.3.m.13.
• Henry, by the grace of god, c. To the
  Archbisops,Bishops, c.greetings,
• Know that we have granted to our beloved subject
  Hugh Dispensar that he
• And his heirs have and hold for ever one market
  every week on Thursday
• At his manor of Lucteburg and that they have
  there one fair every year
• For three days duration, to wit , in the vigil
  and in the day and in the
• Morrow of St .Peter ad vincula. So then that
  market and that fair
• Be not to the damage of neighbouring markets and
  neighbouring fairs, We
• Grant also to the same Hugh that he and his heirs
  and his men of Lucteburg
• Burton Hukelescot Fretheby and Erendesby be for
  ever quit of suits
• To the county and hundred and of Sheriffs aids
  and of view of frankpledge.
• Wherefore we will and firmly order that the said
  Hugh and his heirs have

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/18

• And hold the aforesaid market and the aforesaid
  fair freely, peacefully
• And wholly, with all liberties and free customs
  to the aforesaid market
• And his aforesaid fair belonging and that the
  same Hugh and his heirs
• And his aforesaid men of the aforesaid vills of
  Lucteburg, Burton
• Hukelescot Fretheby and Erendesby be quit of
  suits to the county
• And hundred and of Sheriffs aids and of the view
  of frankpledge for
• Ever as is aforesaid. These witnesses, E.London,
  J.Rath, and R.Salisbury,
• Bishops, H..de Burghour justice, RandEarl of
  Chester and Lincoln,
• Stephen de Sedgrave, William de Cantil,Henry de
  Capella and others.
• Given as above at Westminster 12th day of
  February, the year c 11th

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/21

• Pro Hugo Dispensar alibi Cart. H H.3.p.1.m.34
• Rex Archiepiscopis Episcopis etcetera salutem,
  Sciatis nos concessisse
• Dilecto fideli nostro Hugni Dispensar quod ipse
  et heredes sui habeant
• Et teneant imperpetuum unum mercatum singulis
  septimanis per diem Jovis
• Apud manerium suum de Lucteburg et quod habeant
  unam feriam singulis annis
• Per tres/dies duraturam scilicet in vigilia in
  die et in crastino beati Petri
• Ad vincula. Ita lunc quod mercatum illud et feria
  illa non sunt ad
• Nocumentum vicinorum mercatorum et vicinarum
  feriarum. Con cessimus eciam
• Pertinentiis et de Burton Hukescot Frethebi et
  Erendelby sint imperpetuum
• Quieti de sectis comitatu et hundredo et de
  auxiliis vicecomitis et de
• Visu franciplegio. Concessimus eciam pro nobis et
  heredibus nostris eidem
• Hugonemet heredibus suis quod ipsi habeant
  imperpetuum hinc liberatem

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/21

• Videlicet quod non ponantur in assisis Juratis
  vel recognitionibus.
• Quare volumus etcetra quod predictus Hugo et
  heredes sui habeant et
• Teneant imperpetuum predictum mercatum et
  predictam feriam libere quiete
• Et Integre cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis
  consuetudinibus ad predictum
• Mercatum et predictam feriam pertinentibus et
  quod ipsi Hugo et heredes
• Sui et predicti homines sui de prodictis villis
  de Lucteburg cum
• Pertinentiis et de Burton Hukelescot Frethebi et
  Erendesby sint quieti
• De sectis comitatu et hundredo et de auxiliis
  vicecomitis et visufrancipleg
• Et quod ipsi Hugo et heredes sui habeant
  imperpetum predictam libertatem
• Quod non ponantur in assisis Juratis vel
  recognitionibus sicut predictum
• Est Hiis testibus J.Bath R.Dunhelm ct W.Carled
  episcopis H.de Burgo etc.
• R.Comite Cestr et W,Comite Mareseallo, W.Comite
  de Ferr J.Constab

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/21

• TRANSLATION FORM PREVIOUS PAGES
• For Hugh Dispensar. Elsewhere Charter II Henry
  III pt.1, m.34.
• The King to the Archbishops, Bishops,
  c.greeting.Know that we have granted
• To our beloved subject Hugh Dispensar that he and
  his heirs have and hols for
• Ever one market every week on Thursday at his
  manor of Lucteburg and that they
• Have one fair every year for three days duration,
  to wit, in the vigil in the
• Day and in the morrow of St.Peter ad vincula. So
  then that the market and
• That fair are not to the hurt of neighbouring
  markets and neighbouring fairs
• We grant also to the same Hugh that he and his
  heirs and his men of Lucteburg
• With the appurtenances and of Burton Hukescot,
  Frethebi Erendelby be for
• Ever quit of suits of the county and hundred and
  of Sherriff's aids and of view
• Of frankpledge. We grant also for us and our
  heirs to the same Hugh and his
• Heirs that they have for ever this liberty, to
  wit, that they be not placed in

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Translations of the Latin Text from the Royal
CharterC53/21

• Assizes, juries and recognisances . Wherefore we
  will , do. that the aforesaid
• Hugh and his heirs have and hold for ever the
  aforesaid market and the aforesaid fair
• Freely, peacefully and wholly with all liberties
  and free customs
• To the aforesaid market and the aforesaid fair
  belonging and that the same
• Hugh and his heirs and his aforesaid men of the
  aforesaid vills of Lucteburg
• With the appurtenances and of Burton Hukelescot
  Frethebi Erendesby be quit
• Of suits of the county and hundred and of
  Sheriffs aids and view of frankpledge
• And that the said Hugh and his heirs have for
  ever the aforesaid liberty
• That they shall not be placed in assizes, juries
  or recognisances.These
• Witnesses, J.Bath, R.Durham and W.Carlise,
  bishops, H.de Burgh c. R.Earl of
• Chester, W.Earl Marshal, W.Earl Ferrers,
  J.Constable, S.de Sedgrave, H.de Molis,
• Richard de Argent, Henry de Capell, Bartholomew
  Peche and others. Given by the
• Hand of R.Bishop of Chichester, c. at
  Westminster 6th day of February, the
• Year c.13th.

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Some old fair pictures
Armstrong's Machines in the School Yard 1958
Rose Brothers Meteorite in Market Place 1958
Henry Warwick's traditional Shooter in the
'Golden Fleece' yard, 1960.
Devonshire Square, 1963.
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Pictures of the fair in modern times
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Further Information

• Approximately 100 individual show people
  attend each year, presenting between them some 20
  large rides, numerous children's roundabouts,
  game and novelty stalls, and the usual popular
  refreshment stands.
• The Fair aims to cater for everyone, young
  and old alike, and those who just like to sample
  the general fairground atmosphere and observe the
  various spectacles, which are visibly stunning,
  particularly at night, when they are all lit up
  Amongst those pleasure rides presented this year
  will be the old favourites such as Waltzers,
  Twist, Dodgems, Galloping Horses, together with
  the more spectacular rides such as the Freak Out,
  Big Ben, Move It, Wild Mouse, Sea Storm, Kiddies'
  Corner and the Extreme Ride and perhaps one or
  two surprise attractions
• The Council's Markets and Fairs Service has
  responsibility for directing the arrangements
  connected with the Fair. Tel [phone] or
• email market.fairs_at_charnwood.gov.uk

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