Stourbridge Fair

Stourbridge Fair

Began August 24 for three weeks

In the 17th century the Stourbridge Fair, held at Stourbridge (or Sturbridge) near Cambridge, was England's chief place of exchange. It was established around 1200 as a benefit for the local lepers' hospital, and it was put on by the town and Cambridge University beginning on St. Bartholomew's Day, August 24, and continuing for about three weeks. It was held at Duddery Square, where all the cloth and clothing shops were located. Merchants and wholesalers could buy everything from Italian silks to furs from the Baltics and linen from Flanders. Those who attended the fair would bring home souvenirs known as "fairings"—originally relics or images of saints, but later trinkets of all sorts or gingerbread in the shape of hobby-horses covered with gilt. The fair was held for the last time in 1855.
Although there were other amusements for fairgoers, including rope dancing and puppet shows, those who wanted to see the greatest entertainers of England and Europe would go to London for the Bartholomew Fair, which was held at this same time of year.

SOURCES:
BkFair-1939, p. 170
YrFest-1972, p. 162