Neath’s Great Fair grew out of a violent time of blood and turmoil
Pic: Linsey's Tunnel of Love 1960 by National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield LibrarySep 8 2010 by Robin Turner, Western Mail (from walesonline.co.uk)
ONE of the oldest annual fairs in the UK is taking place today – for the 730th time.
But visitors walking amid the bobbing balloons, busy trade stalls and whirling waltzers at Neath’s “great fair” will mostly be unaware of the bloody turmoil that gave birth to the event in medieval times.
The fair, which takes place on the second Thursday of September, can trace its origin back to an original Charter granted in 1280.
It was signed by the flame haired Gilbert “The Red” De Clare, whose family had helped William the Conqueror take over England in 1066. He ruled with an iron fist.
In the mid 1120s, Earl Robert of Gloucester had established the western frontier of the Norman lordship of Glamorgan on the banks of the river Neath. Norman knights were granted land in the area for their loyalty, but the local Welsh population did not take matters lying down.
It was said the banks of the river Neath were the most dangerous part of Glamorgan, as the Normans and their supporters suffered ferocious attacks from well armed bands of locals.
According to Sheffield University-based Professor Vanessa Toulmin, director of the National Fairground Archive, the granting of fair charters was done to encourage trade.
She said the 1280 Neath Fair Charter was almost certainly granted to give those who had suffered from raids a chance to do trade and sell their goods.
George Eaton, writing in The Story of Neath’s Fair, which was published to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the event, said the aim was to encourage the demoralised burgesses to recover from the traumatic experiences of warfare and siege.
read more at:http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/09/08/neath-s-great-fair-grew-out-of-a-violent-time-of-blood-and-turmoil-91466-27222686/
ONE of the oldest annual fairs in the UK is taking place today – for the 730th time.
But visitors walking amid the bobbing balloons, busy trade stalls and whirling waltzers at Neath’s “great fair” will mostly be unaware of the bloody turmoil that gave birth to the event in medieval times.
The fair, which takes place on the second Thursday of September, can trace its origin back to an original Charter granted in 1280.
It was signed by the flame haired Gilbert “The Red” De Clare, whose family had helped William the Conqueror take over England in 1066. He ruled with an iron fist.
In the mid 1120s, Earl Robert of Gloucester had established the western frontier of the Norman lordship of Glamorgan on the banks of the river Neath. Norman knights were granted land in the area for their loyalty, but the local Welsh population did not take matters lying down.
It was said the banks of the river Neath were the most dangerous part of Glamorgan, as the Normans and their supporters suffered ferocious attacks from well armed bands of locals.
According to Sheffield University-based Professor Vanessa Toulmin, director of the National Fairground Archive, the granting of fair charters was done to encourage trade.
She said the 1280 Neath Fair Charter was almost certainly granted to give those who had suffered from raids a chance to do trade and sell their goods.
George Eaton, writing in The Story of Neath’s Fair, which was published to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the event, said the aim was to encourage the demoralised burgesses to recover from the traumatic experiences of warfare and siege.
read more at:http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/09/08/neath-s-great-fair-grew-out-of-a-violent-time-of-blood-and-turmoil-91466-27222686/
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