Thursday is Market Day in Ross, and has been since 1138 when the right to hold a market was granted by King Stephen. Being able to have a market was important for the prosperity of a town which either could hold it because it was a burgh (or borough) or if the local lord of the manor paid for it. In fact the Bishop of Hereford paid 5 marks to King Henry III in 1218 for another market to be held on Tuesdays. Other local markets included a Wednesday market at Lea, and a Thursday market at Goodrich and Fownhope.

As well as Market Day, Ross also had the right to have a couple of Fairs each year. The Fair in medieval times was originally a religious festival, so it was church in the morning and general jollification in the afternoon and evening. The monarch would make the grant to the local clergy who decided which feast day should be designated, so for Ross the Bishop of Hereford decreed that the Fair would be on July 20th, the Feast of Margaret the Virgin.

Fownhope celebrated a few days later with a Fair on July 22nd, (Mary Magdalene), whilst the parishioners of Lea celebrated May 3rd, (the Invention of the Cross), and August 24th, (St. Bartholomew).

The latter was a popular one for Fairs and the high jinks and going-on were captured by Shakespeare’s contemporary, Ben Jonson in his very bawdy play, Bartholomew Fair. Written after the Reformation it showed that by this time the religious aspect of a Fair had vanished and it was now an excuse to go out and enjoy oneself.

The Society’s meetings, held in Linton Village Hall, HR9 7RX will recommence on October 3rd.

For more information please contact Dorian Osborne on 01989 780634, or e-mail: [email protected].