Fair, Market Square, Stafford,

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Date:1906

Description:Henry III granted the first annual fair to Stafford in 1261. Fairs had two sides - trade and pleasure. People would travel from a wide area to visit the fairs, which often filled the town's main streets.

By 1900 a pleasure fair, known as the Gorby Fair, was held in the Market Square at the same time as the cattle fairs. The cattle fair on Gaolgate Street, known as the Rother Market, continued until 1909 when it moved to Lammascote Road.

On the left is the Jubilee Fountain, erected in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It was demolished in 1934.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1680s
Old Town Hall, Stafford,
Old Town Hall, Stafford,

There has been a shire building in Stafford since the 1280s, used as a meeting place ...

1790s
Proposed Design for Stafford's Shire Hall,
Proposed Design for Stafford's Shire Hall,

Design for a new Shire Hall on Market Square. In 1790 a decision was made to ...

1840s
Market Square from the South, Stafford,
Market Square from the South, Stafford,

Stafford possessed a market as early as 1206, when Edward the Elder passed a law ...

1850s
Market Square, Stafford,
Market Square, Stafford,

Stafford possessed a market as early as 1206, when Edward the Elder passed a law ...

1880s
Portrait of a Victorian Lady, Stafford,
Portrait of a Victorian Lady, Stafford,

Miniature studio portrait of Susy Macnaghten. She is wearing a ruched velvet ...

1890s
Children Celebrating Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, Stafford,
Children Celebrating Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, Stafford,

1910s
Royal Mail Van, Stafford,
Royal Mail Van, Stafford,

Royal Mail van believed to be the first motor driven mail van in Stafford. The ...

1930s
Guildhall, Stafford,
Guildhall, Stafford,

The Guildhall on Market Square was designed by Charles Trubshaw and built in 1853. ...

1950s
Refuse Collection Wagon, Stafford,
Refuse Collection Wagon, Stafford,

Photograph donated by Stafford Historical and Civic Society, who retain copyright ...

1960s
Aerial View of Stafford from the South-east,
Aerial View of Stafford from the South-east,

View looking north-west from over South Walls and Eastgate Street. The River ...

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Image courtesy of: William Salt Library

Donor ref:William Salt Library No., Stafford 24J, img: 622 (18/1148)

Source: Staffordshire Museum Service

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.