Mountsorrel Fair

Mountsorrel Fair goes back to July 14^th 1292 when Edward I granted to Nicholas de Seagrave, Lord of the Manor, the privilege of holding a weekly market on Mondays and a yearly fair. The fair was to be held for eight days on the vigil, feast and morrow of St John the Baptist and five days after (10^th -18^th July).

The fair was officially “proclaimed” by the Lord of the Manor or his lady, and in later times by his agent. Every householder was then obliged, either in person or by proxy, to “handsell” his name or to pay a fine of a penny, called the “smoke penny.” (I don’t know what this means)

Any householder had the right to display a “bush” over his door and dispense liquor free of licensing duty while the fair was in progress.(A bush was the traditional way of signifying an ale-house in the days before reading was commonplace).The privilege was in practice usually limited to those whose houses were large enough to accommodate guests, and these houses were known as “bushhouses” by the locals.

During the fair in the early 1850’s Mr. Martin, the quarry owner commenced his annual treats for his men. At first he gave his men “The Roast Beef of Old England.” The men went to Bradgate Park in wagons decorated with green boughs; they proceeded up the town-street headed by the town band, and when they arrived at Bradgate they were amply regaled with beef, ham and some good brown stout.

On other occasions his annual dinner for about 250 quarrymen took place in local residents’ orchards.

After about 8 years the beer and beef gave way to a tea-meeting attended by the men and their wives, around 900 people. Following a dessert of cake and fruit the remainder of the evening was spent in dancing, cricket, and other amusements.

The fair eventually expanded to an eight day extravaganza and became famous all over the region. The locals always regarded it as a nine day fair – eight days of fair and one to recover.And so the fair became notorious for rowdiness and drunken behaviour.

So it became necessary to swear in twelve special constables due to the excess drinking and debauchery.

They were given thick staves, three feet long, emblazoned with the royal coat of arms and were required to fix them on their house wall so that all might know upon whom to call for assistance in time of need.

A Court of Pie Powder was held to deal with all disputes and disturbances. The last one was held in the Black Swan.

But so great was the nuisance caused by the drunkenness and disorder that at the petition of some of the leading inhabitants, the official fair was abolished by the Earl of Lanesborough in or about the year 1872.

This action caused uproar and demonstrations went on for years afterwards. One man, “Beauty” Bowler of Dobb Hall, became a mock Lord of he Manor and led the protests. Dressed as Bacchus and wearing a ribbon covered top hat and a gaudy coloured coat he paraded the town on a white donkey. He was accompanied by attendants bearing mop handles to represent the constables’ staves. Arriving at the Green, he would ring a bell, sit astride a beer barrel and declare the fair open. This was followed by a grand procession, which paraded through the village led by the town band.

   

The fair later resumed taking place on Whitsun Saturday. The celebrations included bands, a fancy dress parade, decorated vehicles, games and competitions, with all proceeds going to local hospitals. There was also a cricket match in the afternoon.

A more recent commercial travelling fair used to visit Mountsorrel on the weekend of 9th July but due to dwindling numbers, this last took place in 1988.

The fair was revived in the form of the ‘Mountsorrel Gala’ during the 1980’s and 90’s.

There were no equivalent celebrations for about 15 years until in 2014 the ‘Mountsorrel Revival’ continued a tradition going back 700 years

Sources

‘Mountsorrel’ by E W Hensman MA in ‘Memorials of Old Leicestershire’

Leicestershire Mercury 20 July 1850