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Mags Meanderings: From
Som Tam To Mushy Peas
16
Fair enough
Last week I threatened (sorry - promised) to explain the
history of Hulls’ fair, which is in fact quite an interesting
ride.
Now over 700 years old, Hull Fair is the largest travelling
fair in Europe, and one of the oldest. Originally founded
as a place for traders to sell their wares - everything
from hardware and groceries to horses and cattle - it was
a commercial venture which allowed traders from out
of town restricted access annually to sell for a specific
length of time. (No doubt in return for the payment of a
fee to the Council.)
The idea being that limiting access to goods from other
parts of the country encouraged more trade to develop
in the town, which could sustain it during those days of
civil unrest and battles.
Begun by Royal Charter in 1278, the fair went through
two more successive royal charters, and changes to its’
duration and starting date, which in 1751 caused a bit
of a furore that now sounds more Thai than English.
In 1750 England adopted the Gregorian calendar in
order to come into line with other countries, including
Scotland, and in doing so changed the legal New Year
from March 25th to January 1st. This meant that, on
paper at least, 1751 appeared to lose 12 wee