Saints Days and fairs/feasts were and still are part of life in England.
Saints Days were celebrated with a fair and/or feast in probably every
village and town in laceland. It was at these fairs that lacemakers could
buy pre made - or order special bobbins, obtain thread and maybe sell their
lace. Workers were given a well earned day of r&r and children had a holiday
from school.
Rothwell (Rowell as it's known locally) has held a week long street fair
almost unbroken for over 800 years commencing on Trinity Sunday with the
blessing of the fair - the local church being the Holy Trinity. Followed on
the Monday morning at 6a.m by the proclamation, on horseback, by the bailiff
of the lord (lady) of the manor, usually attended by hundreds of people from
far and wide and even today it's a time for family reunions. It wasn't only
a funfair, livestock (particularly horses) was bought and sold. Fairs were
also used as a means of men finding employers or visa versa - men being
paraded and examined much like the livestock!
Diana in Rowell, Northants
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