Medieval fair1/10/2024 ![]() Nowadays, charter fairs bare little resemblance to their early days as trading hotspots, and are often fairgrounds, funfairs or other community events, such as carnivals, concerts or sports days. The Charter Fair became less about trading and more focused on entertainment and performance. The fairs were a place where people from all walks of life could come together and forget about their troubles for a little while. Modern Charter Fairsįast forward a few centuries to the 1800s, and the humble charter market had transformed into the Charter Fair - a sprawling, colorful, and chaotic celebration of fun, food, and adventure. These fairs attracted international traders and merchants, and were a great way for wealthier people and business owners to stock up on spices, wax, preserved meat and fabrics. By the end of the medieval period, Stourbridge fair was the largest in Europe! Some towns, such as Boston, Winchester, Stamford and St Ives, had particularly huge fairs that were of key economic significance. Over time, these markets grew and evolved, becoming larger and more elaborate affairs, with food stalls, games, and even performers added to the mix. ![]() These gatherings were known as "charter markets" and were given special privileges. It all began in medieval times, when wandering merchants and traders would gather in town squares to sell their wares and entertain the locals. Starting from the 12th Century, many towns and cities in England began to receive royal permits to host annual fairs lasting two or three days. ![]() A Royal Charter is a formal grant given by the king or queen. What Are Charter Fairs?Ī charter fair is simply a fair that which was established by Royal Charter. But where did these legendary events come from, and how did they become so beloved by so many? Let's take a whimsical look back at the history of Charter Fairs. They have always been a source of excitement, delight, and wonder, and still continue nowadays, bringing together families and friends to enjoy the sights and sounds of the funfair rides and games. Or go to our Gallery page to see photos of previous events.Charter Fairs have been a staple of communities all across the UK for centuries. To find out more watch BBC London’s report on the 2019 Festival It took on the role of organising the Festival from the Battle of Barnet Partnership (Barnet Museum, The Barnet Society and The Battlefields Trust), which delivered the Battle of Barnet Project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. If you have not visited the Festival before, why not watch this short film of the 2019 Festival, created by the talented students of Elstree University Technical School:īarnet Medieval Festival is organised by the Barnet Medieval Festival Committee, a registered charity formed with the aim of advancing the education of the public in the history of medieval life and warfare, with a focus on the history of the town of Barnet. We are grateful to Graham Turner for allowing us to use his wonderful portrayal of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in action at the Battle of Barnet, for this year’s poster. Fought on 14th April 1471, the Battle of Barnet saw Edward IV lead his Yorkist army to victory against the Lancastrian forces led by the Earl of Warwick. If you enjoyed the Festival, please consider volunteering your time and do contact us at welcome your feedback and ideas for future festivals, so would be glad if you could take a couple of minutes to fill in this short survey: If you enjoyed this year’s Festival, please consider making a donation to support future festivals – we really appreciate your support:īarnet Medieval Festival is dedicated to engaging people in the history of the Battle of Barnet and its significance within the Wars of the Roses. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Festival volunteers. We are grateful to our hosts Barnet Elizabethans RFC, Barnet Council and Christ Church Primary School for allowing us to stage the Festival on this beautiful and special site. The organisers would like to thank all the participants for creating such a splendid show and for sharing your expertise and enthusiasm with the public. THANK YOU to everyone who came to Barnet Medieval Festival this weekend – it was a tremendous turnout and we hope you had a wonderful time at the Festival.
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