This is the final part of the Fairlop chronology. See our page on Fairlop for details.
At the start of this period Fairlop Fair was firmly established with it’s traditions (such as the boats) and was drawing vast crowds from London. Criminal activity had been on the rise for decades, as had attempts to put the fair down: in this period activities on both sides escalates until eventually Fairlop fair, as originally founded, effectively is closed down.
Some key points from this period:
1832: Twenty constables now to try and maintain order at the fair, and the associated policing costs.
1834: Complaints of the fair having spilled over into Saturday and Sunday etc. (also see 1836);
1839: Railway opens and lots (more?) travel to Fair.
1838: First advertisement of booths at the Fair.
1839: Serious organised attack on police at Fair.
1840: Authorities act to limit the fair to one day;
1841: The religious people had been attending (and subsequently condemning) the Fair.
1849: Full account of a play centred on Fairlop. There had been quite a few written, but there substance has been lost.
1850: Fair-goers returning from Fairlop set the Pavilion Theatre on fire with fireworks.
1851: Fairlop Fair about end as the forest is to be enclosed.
1855: “Fairlop Fair” moved to pasture near Maypole pub.
Exchequer Court, Feb. 24. Sanderson v. Ibberson and Penny. Mr. Richards stated that the plaintiff in this action was the keeper of the Bear and Castle, Oxford-street, and a livery-stable-keeper. The defendants were clerks in the coach-office at Lad-lane. The action was brought to recover the value of a horse which the defendants had hired to go to Fairlop fair, and had so overdriven, that from the time they returned him he had never been able to do any work, and had died within three weeks after. The Learned Gentleman called evidence in corroboration of his statement, after which the Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff.—Damages 14l. 18s.
Twenty special constables were ordered to be sworn in (from the body who lately filled that office) to preserve the peace at the approaching Fairlop Fair, on Friday, the 6th July. They will be sworn in the day previous to the Fair. This precaution is always taken.
The Half-yearly Meeting of this valuable Institution was holden yesterday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, and it was very respectably attended, and, no doubt, would have been honoured with the presence of many others of its good friends had their attentions not been withdrawn, amongst other attractions, to Fairlop fair.
Has a long piece full of puns about Fairlop fair. A sample below:
On Friday last, the fair ones rose, anxious and expecting, and decked old Hainault in all the pomp and circumstance of “floating drapery and of flying hair.” Cockaigne was in an uproar—many a cobler’s awl, and many a yard measure, and many a “grey goose quill”, were sent to the right about, and their owners were off on the wings of an omnibus to the enchanting scene. Vehicles of all descriptions crowded the road—tailors measured their lengths on the way, shop-boys ran counter, and many a cockney would have displayed his horsemanship if he could have distinguished the head of his nag from the tail—a circumstance, by the bye, of very little consequence, for as the order of the day was to move en masse, none but the foremost had anything to do with reins. ...
In a full account of expenditure in Essex from Easter Session 1831 to Easter Session 1832 the following is recorded:
Special Constables at Fairlop Fair . . . £33 17s. 0d.
To Builders, Carpenters, Brokers and Others. By J. Eversfield, at No. 12, Northampton-street, Lower-road, Islington, on Thursday, Feb. 14, at Eleven, by order of the Proprietor, who is retiring from the Building trade. The remaining stock of seasoned planks, deals and boards ... a splendid loo table, being part of the celebrated Fairlop oak ...
It is calculated that there were not fewer than 40,000 persons at Fairlop Fair, on Friday last. The company were more respectable than usual, and we have not heard of any of those broils with which the gaieties at this fair have frequently terminated.
The Essex accounts are again printed (see 4 Feb. 1833) and the special constables at Fairlop Fair against cost £32 11s.
At Essex Quarter session a passing comment on the Fairlop Fair special constables was made:
Major Anderson said that some years ago there was the greatest disorder at Fairlop Fair, but that was not now the case, because special constables were sworn in.
Fairlop Fair.—Preparations have been made for Fairlop Fair; on Saturday 40 special constables were sworn for the purpose of preserving the peace, and Mr. Robinson, the Magistrate, after point out to them their duties, advised them by all means to keep their tempers. Great evils often arose from a little violence on the part of an officer, & though they might be molested, the best way was to endeavour to forego that inclination which every Englishman must feel when he received an insult to resent it—and do their duty calmly. It appears that gambling has been carried on to a great extent on the Sunday; on some occasions as many as two hundred tables have been seen on the ground at one time, and the gang set all law at defiance. Last year, by the directions of Mr. Spering, a great many were driven away; and the Magistrates recommended that the example should be followed on this occasion. The best way they said, was for the constables to upset the first table that was placed on the Sunday, and thus beat the gamblers in detail, for it was useless to attack them after they had been allowed to commence their play.
Fairlop Fair commenced on Friday, and from the favourable state of the weather was very numerously attended. The grand must of the East-end fashionables will, however, take place to-day, and ample preparations are made in “the victualling department” for their gratification.
The Lea-bridge road on Sunday was the scene of numerous accidents, arising from the furious driving of many vehicles to Fairlop Fair. The confusion arising from taking the toll at Lea-bridge of those persons who had not paid, and causing many of them who could not produce their tickets to pay the toll again, created such a confusion as has not occurred there for some years. Among some of the accidents that occurred, was the upsetting of a cart, heavily laden with persons, which was driven with such violence against a van, that three children and one woman were conveyed in a mutilated state to the Horse and Groom Tavern, and no hopes entertained of their recovery; a chaise was thrown over, and one person had a leg broken; several carts were upset, and very few of the parties escaped without broken limbs.
An inquest on the death of Thomas Joseph Dockerill, Guildford street, Brunswick-square, who was killed in a accident when he was drunkenly driving a landau back from Fairlop fair was held and reported 14 July 1834 in the Morning Advertiser.
In a long letter “A. B.” complained of Fairlop Fair. Excepts are:
Sir, It cannot be unknown to the generality of your readers that, on the first Friday in July, an assembly is held in Waltham Forest, in West Hainault Walk, on or near to the site of a tree, some years destroyed, called “Fairlop Oak.” Although this assembly is styled a “fair,” yet its origin is well known to be comparatively modern, and indeed has neither prescription or charter to justify its continuance; and, on the score of expedience, or the peaceable gratification of those whose fancy of pleasure may lead them to enjoy a harmless amusement on that one day, it appears not be supported by the tenor of the very wholesome Act, viz. 3 Geo. IV. cap. 55, passed for the regulating such fairs as are legally held, or suppressing such as have no lawful origin or authority, if the consequence of a loose and disorderly assemblage on the succeeding is permissible, by the usage which tolerates the authorised “fair”, held on the preceding Friday. Most of your readers must have remarked the number of accidents (some fatal) which took place on the road last Sunday, in consequence of the multitudinous assemblage of vehicles driving furiously and filled with idle apprentices and loose and disorderly characters. It would take up too much of your columns to articularize the scenes of licentiousness and debauchery which occurred on the present occasion, not only on the Friday and Saturday, but on the Sunday, and which must annually occur, as this owes its growth to the sufferance of the Crown, or of the absentee Warden, The Honourable W. P. Long Wellesley. .. Surely the immunity to black-legs, gamblers, and rascals, of all descriptions, with whom the “fair” annually swarms, should be put an end to. ... the enormous profits arising from the letting of ground for booths, flash houses, and gamblers’ rooms or taverns, would more than compensate.
In the Essex Standard, 26 September 1834, it was reported that the cost of the special constables for Fairlop Fair had risen to £38 1s.
Mr. John King would sell by Action [at Bethnal-green-road] various items including:
a four-wheel pony phaeton, single-horse chaise, a Fairlop Pleasure-boat on springs and a four-wheel carriage.
Fairlop Fair.—On Friday the grand area around the celebrated Oak of Hainault Forest was lined with a multifarious range of theatrical representations, shows, wild beasts, and other monstrosities, to allure the motley throng. Enjoyment seemed to be the order of the day, and every corner of the chequered fields was brimful of mirth.
Fairlop Fair.—It was expected, from the great number of persons at this fair, that there would have been many charges, as on former occasions, brought before the bench, but not a single charge or complaint was made.
Fairlop Fair.—Preparations are already making for this fair, and the Magistrates of the district are particularly anxious to adopt some means for clearing the ground before the Sunday, and thus prevent those scenes of riot and confusion which too often take place on that day. Thirty or forty special constables from the neighbourhood have usually been sworn in, and each was paid 5s. a day; but this year the Magistrates intend to have twelve of the Metropolitan police, who will receive the same pay per day, with the addition of lodging, and thus a considerable saving will be effected to the county.
More details is given in the Chelmsford Chronicle, 1 July 1836:
Mr. Davis wished to state the arrangements which had been made with respect to Fairlop Fair. Ten men were to be provided and paid by the deputy of the Lord of the Manor, and the Magistrates had engaged to have fourteen of the Metropolitan Police—to sergeants and twelve men, at 5s. a day, with their lodging and carriage found them. The Magistrates also intended to have a placard giving notice that all booths, &c., must be cleared away before the Saturday night, that Sunday might be properly observed.
Fairlop Fair, which commenced on Friday, continued, with all its fun and merriment, until Sunday evening. The “sports and pastimes” were extremely rational, and the order and simplicity with which the amusements and recreations of the vast assemblage of the people conducted themselves would have commanded the approbation of even Sir Andrew Agnew.
Interestingly the above description contradicts that given in the London Evening Standard of the same day (see follwing).
DESECRATION OF THE SABBATH.—FAIRLOP FAIR.
On Sunday, according to the annual custom, which would be much more honoured in the breach than in the observance, an immense multitude of the inhabitants of this overgrown city visited that celebrated place of resort—Fairlop. As early as four o’clock in the morning, crowds of pedestrians were seen wending their way through clouds of dust to the spot, which, on the first Sunday in July, appears to be the centre of attraction for all those who care little for the decent observance of the Sabbath. Omnibuses, cabs, hackney-coaches, chaise-carts, waggons, donkey-carts, long vans containing 20 to 30 persons in each, dog-carts, and even hand-chaises, were put in requisition, and we have heard it from good authority that not less than 5000 vehicles of all kinds and descriptions went through the turnpike at Mile-end, on Sunday morning; and, of course, saving and except those broken down, of which there were not less than 20, returned in the evening by the same way. The Lea-bridge and Clapton-road was equally crowded. The block-makers and watermen, who go annually in handsome boats, decorated with colours, on wheels, to Fairlop Fair, on the first Friday in July, remained at home on the Sunday. The road between Whitechapel and Wanstead was one continued scene of uproar, noise, and confusion. At night, however, the scene between London and Stratford was truly horrible; almost every moment some person or other was knocked down, and the furious driving and wanton negligence of those who had the care of animals, who certainly exhibited more humanity than their masters, led to accidents without number. On the Mile-end-road two children and a man were knocked down, and the man rode over by a chaise. He was taken off to the hospital. A little while after two carts were upset by the awkwardness of their drivers, and their passengers, to the number of 30, thrown out and many of them seriously injured.
At Bow, where a temporary bridge is erected till the stone bridge, now building, is completed, a great number of police constables of the K division were stationed, under Inspector Garne. The road there being very narrow, the most danger was apprehended, and three policemen were placed on the bridge to enforce the keeping in a line the vehicles coming over. They executed this arduous task in a mild but firm manner, and it was owing to their unceasing activity and great good humour amidst the taunts and jeers of the mischievously inclined, that we must attribute the absence of any accident on that spot, the furious driving of the persons in the various vehicles, each endeavouring to get before the other, rendering such occurrences almost inevitable. We are sorry to add that the officers in the performance of this really dangerous duty were cut over the head and face by the half-drunken drivers in the most shameful manner. Matters, however, were still worse in Stratford, where four men and two women were thrown out and bruised most dreadfully; one had an arm broken. The horse also took fright, and after knocking down and running over a number of persons, was stopped near Bow-bridge. Three children and two men were also run over, and we understand some of their bones were broken. In Ilford-lane a young man was knocked down by a chaise, in which were two Jews, who immediately drove off, leaving the man quite dead. Information was given to the police, but the ruffians who caused the manslaughter escaped. The state of the Lea-bridge-road was precisely similar; and in Hackney horses were running away, and carts and vans breaking down almost every two or three minutes, making confusion worse confounded. All the public-houses on the road were crammed with motley groups. On the spot occupied by the fair itself few accidents occurred, but the thimble and pea-rig cheats, and a hole host of other gamblers carried on their nefarious transactions, as they did on Friday, with impunity. The refreshment booths, of which there were some hundreds, were crowded. The company consisted principally of London shopmen, mechanics, and labouring men, with a great number of Jews and Jewesses from Whitechapel, St. George’s, and Shadwell, nymphs of the pave, and a host of swell mob thieves, who, however, were kept somewhat in check, by the presence of a body of police officers, who also attended on Friday to prevent robberies. Swings, shows, &c., were provided. The latter were not opened, but the others were in full swing. The forest trees were dismantled of their branches without mercy, and every vehicle was decorated in the usual manner with large boughs. On the way home the most obscene songs issued from various vehicles, and the whole road was one continued scene of riot and confusion; in fact, every observer must have been convinced that, at least the first Sunday in July, cannot, in the east of London, bear any more resemblance to the Christian Sabbath than the carnival which precedes Lent does the austerities of that fast, while the cruelties exercised toward the overloaded horses were most revolting.
Fairlop Fair.—Among the numerous honest and dishonest expedients resorted to by the caterers to the public taste, at Fairlop Fair, on Friday last, there was the rather novel one of a water cart, filled with spring water, and which, owing to the intense heat of the day, was very rapidly sold off at two-pence per glass! The poor fellow who hit upon this idea realised a very handsome sum by his speculation.
Fairlop Fair.—The fineness of the weather on Friday last, attracted, as usual, an immense assemblage of visitors to Fairlop, to enjoy their gipsey parties, and other amusements and recreations for which this fair has long been celebrated; and notwithstanding the vast numbers assembled, from the arrangements made by the Ilford Magistrates, fewer breaches of the peace took place on this occasion than at any fair in remembrance. On Saturday there was a very great influx of respectable persons from London, in consequence of the funeral of his late lamented Majesty, many having availed themselves of the holiday afforded them to visit this beautiful retired scenery, and the conduct of all classes, during the day, was marked by the greatest decorum—very little of that revelry and boisterous mirth being observable which usually displays itself at such places. It was arranged that two of the magistrates, Major Anderson and William Pearce, Esq. should attend on Friday, and their presence seemed to produce the desired effect, some offenders being apprehended and taken before these gentlemen. It having been determined to put an end to all gambling, shows, and exhibitions, the above-named active magistrates attended to see their orders enforced, which the police succeeded in accomplishing, though not till they had demolished the gambling apparatus of some of the thimble-rig gentry. On neither of the days were there less than 20,000 persons present.
On reporting the fight between Tom Smith and Brighton Bill:
This “little” affair, for £15 a side, took place on Tuesday, not far from Riddlesdown, Surrey ... Smith is well known as “the East end Sailor.” His last contest was with Jack Adams, by whom he was beaten, and in his ascendancy was deemed a good man, but of late his visits to “Lushington,” tended to impair his stamina. During the last “Fairlop Fair,” he had a “turn up” with “Brighton Bill,” whose real name is Phelps, and who is a native of Brighton. Phelps is only known as a good commoner, but, like some of our celebrated duellists, has “killed his man” in a fight, and for this he suffered two months’ imprisonment. The “brush” at Fairlop fair led to the present match, which was got up among the “Sporting men of the East;”...
In describing the Greenwich fair:
... The next attractive booth in the fair is that of Gipsy Stevens, the Don of Fairlop. He is trying to rival Algar, and calls his concern the Little Crown and Anchor. It is 300 feet in length, and is fitted up in a very tasteful manner ...
In what, I think, was the first advertisement of booths at Fairlop Fair:
Fairlop Fair.—G. Baker, of the Durham Arms, Hackney road, begs to inform his Friends and the Public that he has erected a splendid BOOTH, 100 feet long, for their accommodation, which is stored with a large supply of choice viands, stout and ale in draught and bottle, spirits, iced Champagne, and other wines, with every other kind of refreshment, of a superior description. N. B. G. B. and Co.’s splendid Dancing Booth, which was erected at Hyde Park, and capable of accommodating 4,000 persons, will be at the above.
Fairlop Fair.—This favourite place of annual resort, which originated in the frequent visits of Daniel Day, an eccentric blockmaker, to the forest of Hainault, will, it is probable, be shorn in some measure of its usual company, from the festivities of the Coronation and the splendid fair at Hyde Park having, in some measure, exhausted the spirits and in many instances the pockets of the Cockneys. The blockmakers of Wapping, however, have fitted up their amphibious vehicle to transmit them to the favourite shot, and appear determined to have their “maggot” on the road.
Gambling and Self-Murder.—On Monday evening an inquest was held at the sign of the Cherry Tree, Bromley, Middlesex, before Mr. Baker, the coroner, on view of the body of George Taylor, aged 21 years. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased, who had been an industrious young man, went to Fairlop Fair on Friday last, and having seen several persons, strangers as he believed, but who were mere confederates of the party, win sums varying from 5s. to 5l. from the “thimble-rig” men, he unfortunately made up his mind to “try his luck.” He at first staked all the money he had about him, which was 7s. 6d., and having lost that, he next played his watch against 10s., which he also lost; and these being gone he staked his coat, and afterwards his waistcoat, against small sums, and, as may be anticipated, all fell into the hands of the sharpers. Bereft of his money, watch, and clothes, he wandered about for some time, and at length threw himself into the River Lea, and was drowned. Verdict—“Temporary Insanity.”
Prize Fight Prevented.—It will be seen by our Ilford Petty Session report, that a prize fight which was to have taken place on Tuesday last, on Epping Forest, near the spot where Fairlop Fair is held, was prevented ... The fight was between Hannan and Maley, for £25, a side, and it had been arranged that the parties should meet at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning, at the Eagle, at Snaresbrooke, but on their arrival they found a body of the mounted police at the spot, another at the Hop Poles, towards Ilford, and various other detachments spread over the Forest. The ring was formed at the appointed spot, but the ropes and stakes were immediately seized by the police. The parties then started to the Crooked Billet, on the opposite side of the forest, but being closely watched, the fight was eventually postponed to another day.
Reporting the confession of a thief (possibly from a book, given they serialised it), aged 21, the son of honest parents at Manchester, who first began his career of migratory depredation—not from want, but—“to go to the shows.” He states—
For the last four years, up to 1838, I have “travelled” for a maintenance. I carried a covered hawker’s basket, with an oil-case on the top, with cutlery, trinkets, braces, Birmingham fancy goods, buttons, pearl, bone, and wood. This pack was not what I and other chiefly depended on: it was the excuse for travelling, and also something to fall back upon in case we could do no business of other kinds. The value of the contents would vary from £2 to $4. I have sold skill goods “stolen,” bought of the shop-lifters. There are these in all towns, small as well as large. They will not sell to any unless they know them. If they supposed a man to be “a traveller,” they would come up to him and say, perhaps, “Will you stand for some handkerchiefs, ribbon, anything in gold, or silver, or wearing apparel?” There are ring-stealers, on pretence of buying them. Needle stealers from drapers’ shops “buy 100, and steel a couple of thousand.” Amongst thieves there are several kinds. 1st. Those confined to picking pockets have boys to work for them, and close round them, that no one shall see them. This is very gainful. Large towns furnish them, and they frequent all fairs, wakes, and races. They travel various ways, some with spring and covered carts. “Muffling” the cart is of use only when there is no watchman. The wheels and the horses’ feet are all clothed. I have not heard of its being this long time. ....
I should think there are some thousands of “travellers” in England, not to mention Ireland and Scotland; there are more in Scotland than Ireland, (Ireland is too poor, unless in the large towns.) I have seen 150 of different sorts at one place; at Boughton Green fair, near Northampton, in June every year, thousands of people assemble there; the police from London come to it. Then there is Lincoln April fair; Boston May fair; Newmarket in May; then to Birmingham or Sheffield fairs; then to Coventry, to Newport Pagnell (Bucks),m then back to Boughton; and there is a place called “Stow Green Fair.” Then Peterboro’ summer fair, then Fairlop Forest, 10 miles from London, where I have seen the most gipsies, hundreds at a time. Then to Liverpool Spring-meeting, and then follow the races in all the midland and northern counties, ending up with Doncaster. Then come the winter fairs,—Nottingham goose fair, Leicester cheese fair, Mansfield statties, (all this was detailed from memory without the least hesitation); Rotherham statties, Leeds fair, Ottley statties, (Statties mean fairs held by statue where servants are hired) Knaresborough, York; then come down to Sheffield fair, 28th November, then end up until Wrexham fair begins the year on the 6th of March. I have gone this round three times, all except Wrexham. I will go over the ground again for you: it begins at Wrexham, ....
The newspaper is fairly unreadable, hence the asterisks in the following:
Fairlop Fair.—Opening of the Railway. The Eastern Company, it is now positively asserted, will open their line from the Dog-row, Mile-end-*** to Romford, to the public, on Midsummer-day; but before that time for the directors and shareholders and their friends, to take excursions upon it. Placards are also now being printed, announcing the terms at which the company will convey passengers to Fairlop-fair and land them within a mile of Fairlop, viz., on Chasewell-green. It is expected from this circumstance that there will be ten times the number of person at the next fair than at any former one. By this conveyance they will avoid the dust, which, in fine weather has usually almost smothered people going to this fair.
Fairlop Fair.—To be LET or SOLD a new booth, 6 feet long, with wood sides and end; 21 well-made tables and seats, an excellent dancing floor, 36 feet by 9 feet, an orchestra, a bar, a new stove, a boiler, four devices for lamps, viz., a star, V and R, and a chandelier—all the wood work well painted. Apply (if by letter, post paid) to O. D., No. 120, Pennington -street, Ratcliff-highway.
Dreadful Riot at Fairlop Fair.—On Friday afternoon a most desperate riot took place at Fairlop Fair: a noted and well-known thief was taken into custody for robbing a gentleman, and after great difficulty on the part of several police constables of the K division, the handcuffs were placed on him, but as he was being conveyed out of the fair, a large mass of thieves and companions of the prisoner surrounded the police, and a desperate riot took place and the man was rescued; several of the police are much injured, but more particularly Serjeant Parker, who has received several severe wounds on the head, and lies in a very precarious state.
Desperate Affray, and Rescue of a Prisoner at Fairlop Fair.—This fair, which annually attracts as many thousands of visitors from the metropolis, was held on Friday last, on which occasion a determined gang of villains assembled. Between six and seven o’clock that evening, a cry was raised near the fair of “Thief, thief!” and a young man was observed running at a fast rate, with a heavy bludgeon in one hand and a coat in the other. The latter, it appears, he had openly stolen, in the presence of many individuals, from the carriage of a Mr. Taylor, residing near Connaught-square. A gentleman named Hanbury, whose sister had only a few minutes before been robbed of a valuable shawl, immediately rushed forward to seize the delinquent; but the fellow aimed a blow with his bludgeon at Mr. Hanbury, which providently did not take effect, but the later lost his grasp of the thief. A young man named Cruse subsequently felled the scoundrel to the ground, where he held him by the throat until a special constable arrived, into whose custody he was given, and whose behaviour was certainly most intrepid. A desperate affray then ensued, the officer and gentleman alluded to being attacked by an armed body of the prisoner’s confederates, about 20 in number, who attempted a rescue, but did not succeed in their object, and the villain was removed, after a sharp struggle, to the Crown and Anchor booth, where — Pierce, Esq., Major Anderson and S. Sprange, Esq., steward of the forest, magistrates for the county of Essex, were then sitting, and the necessary evidence having been gone into, the prisoner, who gave his name as William Gibson, was committed to Ilford gaol for further examination on Saturday. A strong body of police then set out with the prisoner handcuffed, but had not proceeded many yards before they were again attacked by the prisoner’s companions, who succeeded in rescuing him from the officers, one of whom, named Samuel Page, 240 K, was very much injured in the affray. One of the ringleaders was, however, taken, and remanded for further examination to Ilford goal. Gibson has not, we regret to say, been retaken.
In describing a balloon ascent:
... On Monday last, Mr. Green, accompanied by four other persons, ascended from Vauxhall gardens ... At this period the balloon was not more than 1,2000 feet from the earth. They continued their onward course, passing about a mile eastward of Fairlop Fair, every booth of which they were able to see. In this direction they went on until they arrived over Chigwell-row, when an alteration took place in the wind. ...
The following passenger traffic figures for the Eastern Counties Railway from Devonshire-street to Romford (which had just opened) were given:
Date |
Total |
Notes |
20th June |
1,415 |
Opening day |
21st |
580 |
|
22nd |
393 |
|
23rd |
2,075 |
Sunday |
24th |
1,345 |
|
26th |
685 |
|
27th |
715 |
|
28th |
412 |
|
29th |
471 |
|
30th |
3,645 |
Sunday |
1st July |
957 |
|
2nd |
859 |
|
3rd |
1,027 |
|
4th |
908 |
|
5th |
3,048 |
Fairlop fair day |
6th |
1,022 |
|
7th |
6,582 |
Sunday and tail end of Fairlop fair |
8th |
983 |
|
9th |
640 |
|
10th |
845 |
From this it can be seen that the tail end of the fair complained about in previous years was indeed drawing thousands of people. A report in the West Kent Guardian, 20 July 1839, adds:
The Eastern Counties’ Railway trains are now proceeding with the utmost regularity, and average the whole distance from Romford to London, including stoppages, at 30 minutes. On Fairlop day they brought down 3,645 passengers, and on the subsequent (the fair) Sunday 6,582.
Fairlop Fair.—the magistrates, clergy, and other principal inhabitants of the parishes in the neighbourhood of this Fair, are making a vigorous effort to obtain its suppression; and a memorial to Lord J. Russell, as Secretary of State for the Home Department, is now in course of signature throughout the district. The following are extracts:—
“That a Fair, called ‘Fairlop Fair,’ not for the sale of Cattle and Merchandize, but of the description of the Fairs lately held at several places within ten miles of Temple Bar, and suppressed under authority of the Act George IV. has, for some years, been held on the first Friday in July, in the centre of Hainault Forest, in the half-hundred of Becontree, and county of Essex, at a spot distant twelve miles or thereabouts, from Temple Bar; which Fair has been the resort of the lower classes, principally from the eastern parts of the metropolis.
“That the said Fair is not an ancient Fair, nor held by charter; but originated in casual circumstances, almost within the memory of persons now living, and was, till within these few years, limited to one day (Friday); so that all the booths and other temporary erections were cleared away, and no trace whatever remained of the Fair on the following Sunday.
“That now, the Fair is continued beyond the Friday till the Monday following: and booths of all descriptions, even the most disreputable, are kept open during the Sunday. One hundred and seven drinking booths, seventy-two gambling tables, and about twelve brothels, were counted on the last occasion—Sunday, 7th July, 1839.
“That the Sunday succeeding the first Friday in July, is now denominated by the lower classes Fairlop Sunday, and all the roads in the vicinity of the Forest are, on that day, covered with conveyances and persons, either proceeding to, or returning from, the Fair, at all hours of the day and night; so that the villages and hamlets within a circle of ten miles round the Forest, such as West Ham, Plaistow, Stratford, Leyton, East Ham, Barking, Ilford, Romford, Chigwell, Dagenham, Wanstead, Woodford, Bow, Hackney, Clapton, Walthamstow, &c., &c., are made the scene of debauchery and disorder, to the annoyance and demoralization of the inhabitants, and the desecration of the Sabbath.
“That the persons who resort to the Fair on the Sunday are more numerous and more disorderly than those who frequent it on the Friday.
“That one of the great roads leading from the Forest to London, and at a spot four miles distance from the Fair, 156 conveyances and 1,430 persons were counted passing from the Fair during fifteen minutes, on Sunday, 7th July, 1839; while, on the preceding Friday, 50 conveyances and 292 persons were counted at the spot during the same space of time, and precisely at the same hour. The number of persons at the Fair on Sunday, 7th July, 1839, is supposed by persons present during the day, and competent to judge, to have exceeded 70,000.
“That this great evil has increased and is increasing every year, and in the present year has received an additional impulse from the opening of the Eastern Counties’ Railway. On the Friday, 3,000 persons were conveyed by the Railroad, and on the Sunday, 6,500.
“That the local authorities have in vain exerted themselves, and used every means at their disposal to limit the Fair to the Friday.
“That your Memorialists have no wish to restrain or diminish, in the slightest degree, the lawful and reasonable recreations of the people; but they do solemnly protest against the public desecration of the Sabbath, here set forth; and the serious evils introduced into a peaceable and rural population.
Jonathan Burt, of Barking Side, keeper of a beer-shop, called the Old Fairlop Oak, applied for a license and said the population in the neighbourhood had greatly increased.—The application was opposed by the landlord of the Maypole, who said his house was within a quarter of a mile of it; and a memoranda against it was put in from the Vicar and inhabitants stating that another house was not required.—The application was refused.
Coming Home From Fairlop.
—“We’ll be happy
On the first Friday in July.”The burden of a ditty wont to be sung round the celebrated oak at Fairlop, was a few years since as popular among cockney travellers as that sublime line of the modern Newgate starling, “Nix by “dolly,” &c., is among our “home-keeping youth” of the present moment—or rather was some four or five weeks ago. Like all other fairs near the metropolis that of Fairlop has dwindled down from rustic or harmless festivity to sheer drinking, gambling blackguardism. People go there six in a chay, and fourteen in a light cart (a load for a mastadon) for the purpose of “seeing nature and playing at skittles.” The scenes exhibited along the line of the road from “Vitechapel Church to Voodford-bridge,” and from “Shoreditch to the Spread Heegle at Snaresbrook”, would furnish all the teetotal societies in the old and new worlds with subjects for lecturers for a dozen winters, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with a great variety of cases worth their attention, and richly deserving the severity of the laws.
A deputation of the clergy, consisting of the Venerable Archdeacon Jones, the Honourable and Reverend Robert Liddell, and Revds. F. K. Leighton, William Streatfield, T. L. Bailiff, and others of the clergy of the neighbourhood, waited upon the magistrates for the purpose of presenting to them certain memorials, numerously signed, requiring them to adopt all measures in their power for prohibiting the continuance of Fairlop Fair beyond one day, and for suppressing the disorders that have lately taken place there.
Fairlop Fair.—This place of amusement is in a fair way to be abolished after the present year, and arrangements are already in progress between the commissioners of police and authorities with that object. In consequence of the gross scenes of debauchery and disturbance that took place at this fair, especially on the Sunday, the minster of the parish of Barking and some of the neighbouring magistrates present a memorial to the magistrates at Ilford, on the 9th instant.
It then goes on to describe how the magistrates wrote letters to commissioners of police etc. Also, “booth-keepers and others will be liable to a penalty of 5l.; if they do not immediately remove from the spot when requested to do by the constables.”
Fairlop Fair we are pleased to hear is likely to be abolished after the present year. The owners of the ground have been summoned for the 6th to show by what right they hold the fair.
The Morning Post of 8 June 1840 then reports what happened:
Limitation and Suppression of Fairlop Fair.—On Saturday, at the Ilford petty sessions, Mr. Pyne, the solicitor, of Great George-street, Hanover-square, agent to the Hon. Mr. Long Wellesley, attended to oppose a summons taken out by the commissioners of police, calling upon that gentleman to show cause why he suffered the illegal holding of Fairlop fair within his manor. The Act of Parliament inflicts a penalty of 200l. on persons holding a fair beyond the period prescribed by its charter, but gives a right of appeal to the superior Courts from the magistrates’ decision, which Mr. Pyne declared it to be his intention of availing himself of, in the event of the magistrates deciding against Mr. Wellesley’s right. The bench proposed that Mr. Pyne should agree on the part of Mr. Wellesley to limit the fair to the Friday, and not to continue it to Saturday and Sunday, which had been so much complained of. To this Mr. Pyne refused to accede. He said the question for the bench to decide was, whether the fair was legally holden or not. The 44th clause of the Police Act limits the fair to one day, and if holden beyond, the chairman said it would be an illegal act. Greenwich was a chartered fair, and did not come within the provisions of the above-named Act. There had been an application to the police commissioners, complaining of disorders and riots taking place at the fair, and as it exceeded the time to which it was originally limited he hoped that the lord of the manor would consent to its limitation to the Friday. The bench were not desirous to suppress the fair. Mr. Pyne was not instructed to agree to any terms; he came there to defend his client’s right to hold the fair, and to maintain its legality. After considerable discussion the question was adjourned for a week, to ascertain the defendant’s willingness to agree the limitation.
and the follow-up, in the London Evening Standard, 16 June 1840:
At the Ilford Petty Sessions held yesterday, the magistrates decided that the holding of Fairlop Fair on Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in July is illegal. It will, inconsequence, be only allowed for a single day.
and that then resulted in the noticed issued and reported in the Morning Chronicle, 20 June 1840:
“Notice is hereby given, that in pursuance of the act passed in the 34 year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria, intituled, ‘An act for further improving the police in and near the metropolis,’ the fair called Fairlop fair, usually holden in Hainault Forest, in the parish of Barking, in the county of Essex, has been declared unlawful beyond the first Friday in July; and a copy of the declaration by several magistrates to that effect is hereunto subjoined. Any attempt thereforeto hold such fair in future, beyond the first Friday in July, will subject offenders to a penalty not exceeding £10, or in default of payment to three months’ imprisonment in the House of Correction.
This was approved of by all the right people, as the Morning Chronicle, 4 July 1840 said:
Fairlop Fair.—The beautiful forest of Hainault, about twelve miles from London, was the scene yesterday of great gaiety, in consequence of the fair being allowed to continue but for one day only on the old spot, and we are sure that if those who are ill natured enough to wish to restrict the amusements of the people had seen the orderly conduct, cheerfulness, and good humour of the countless thousands assembled on Hainault forest yesterday, they would repent of having restricted Fairlop fair to one day instead of two, although the propriety of suppressing the amusements on the first Sunday in July cannot be questioned, and has given much satisfaction to all parties.
Although the Morning Advertiser, Monday, 6 July 1840 appeared to state the Sunday fair went on:
At Fairlop fair yesterday, there was no desecration of the Sabbath; on the contrary, every disposition was shown to comply with the law and the orders of the magistrates.
Note the implications of gipsies stealing children in the following, although the term was probably incorrectly used for all of the Fairlop tents.
A Child Lost at Fairlop Fair.—On Friday Mr. Goodchild, a butcher, in Newgate-market, entrusted his daughter, about 12 years old, to the care of a relative, residing at Avely, who happened to be in town with his horse and cart, and was to convey her from his house to Avely to a relative at Richford. On his return from town he thought he would take a ride with the child to the fair, and whilst there he left her in the care of a stranger, in one of the booths, while he went to look after his horse; on his return he could neither find the child nor the person with whom he left her; and after walking about nearly the whole of the night in search of her, without success, he returned to the parents of the child. The mother, almost heart-broken, accompanied him to the fair, made inquiry of all the police, and searched every gipsey’s tent in the fair and neighbourhood, but in vain; the poor woman was in Romford in the afternoon, making inquiry for her child, almost in a state of distraction.
Quite what happened afterwards isn’t known as although the story was widely reprinted in the newspapers, there was never a follow-up reporting what happened next.
In reporting the 6th annual meeting of the London City Mission, some of the religious activity behind the above was revealed:
The committee had undertaken the fairs of Greenwich, Wandsworth, and Fairlop, as well as the Hippodrome race-course. The attendance at Fairlop on the sabbath last year had much fallen off, and it was hoped would soon be abolished.
Suppression of Fairlop Fair.—The commissioners of police have again issued a notice, worded in the same terms as the one of last year, stating that according to the provisions of the Act 2d and 3d Victoria (commonly called the new Police Act) any person endeavouring to extend Fairlop Fair beyond one day, namely, the first Friday in July, will be liable to a penalty of ten pounds, or three months’ imprisonment in the house of correction.
Fairlop Fair.—Yesterday being the first Friday in July, according to annual custom, some of the East-enders were journeying towards the forest of Hainault, to enjoy the sports and pastimes of Fairlop fair, which has of late been curtailed of much of its “fair” proportions, and is only allowed to continue one day. The blockmakers and watermen left Stepney and Wapping at an early hour, in their amphibious vehicles, boats mounted on carriages, rigged out like ships with masts, and decorated with flags, streamers, &c. Each boat contained a band of music and 24 persons, and the wives of the watermen and blockmakers, gaily dressed, followed in open landaus. The boats were each drawn by six horses, with postilions, and excited much attention along the road. The fair contained a large number of shows, booths, menageries, living wonders, theatres, where a tragedy and pantomime were performed in the short space of 35 minutes. The thimble-rig swindlers did not muster in such great force as on former occasions, and many of their tables were broken up by the police—a proceeding which gave much satisfaction to the visitors. Owing to the late heavy rains, the forest was in a very swampy condition, and many vans, carts, and coaches, stuck fast in the mire. Beans and bacon seemed to be the principal fare, and it was this dish which Daniel Day, an eccentric blockmaker of Wapping, the founder of the fair, used to indulge in under the shade of the “Old forest oak”, which fell a sacrifice to the incaustiousness of some visitors, who set it on fire a few years ago.
Fairlop Fair.—This fair took place on Friday, and a thinner attendance of persons was never known. Formerly Fairlop used to be honoured by a numerous company of fashionables, and, in fact, was considered a respectable place of resort; but of late years it has extremely degenerated.
Old habits die hard...
Ilford Bench, Saturday.—John Adams and Charles Richmond were brought up in custody, for assaulting the police at Fairlop fair, in the execution of their duty.—Josiah Lappett, police constable, stated that on Friday he was on duty at Fairlop fair to preserve the peace, and in the course of the afternoon two gentlemen came up to him and another police constable, and said they had been robbed, and pointed out a spot where a great number disorderly persons had assembled together; witness and other constable proceeded to the spot and told them to disperse, but they refused, and Adams said he would break his b—y head, and Richmond threw a large stone at him; he and the other constable then attempted to apprehend them, but at first were overpowered by them; several other constables came up and the prisoners were secured.—They were fined 15s. each, and Adams being unable to pay was committed for one month.—John Chapman, of Barking, licensed victualler, was convicted in the penalty of 10s. and costs, for keeping his house open on Sunday, the 20th of June, for the sale of beer before the hour of one o’clock in the afternoon, for other purposes than for the refreshment of travellers.
In something not mentioned by any other newspaper:
Mr. Axon, pork butcher of Romford, was murdered at Fairlop fair.
Quite where this came from is unknown, and it’s highly unlike that it would be known in Tipperary but not in Essex!
Fairlop Fair took place, as usual, on Friday; but, from the unfavourable state of the weather in the morning, was lopped of its usual attractions. The police interfered to prevent its continuance beyond the day.
Reporting on the licensing day at Ilford, Essex:
Applications were also made on behalf of George Read, at the corner of Marsh-lane, Stratford; Wm. Linfield, Swan, Wood-street, Walthamstow; and John Burton Rawlings, of the Old Fairlop Oak, all beer-houses, and for the licensing of which applications of the same kind have been unsuccessfully made for the last four or five years.
The Magistrates retired to their private room, where they remained for some time, and on their return:
The Chairman said, that after giving the various petitions and the arguments, pro and con, their best consideration, the Bench was of opinion that, with the exception of the first case, namely, that of Samuel Webb, no sufficient grounds had been made out for granting their prayer.
The Commissioners of Police have issued the usual notice that it will be unlawful to hold Fairlop Fair beyond the first Friday in July. The penalty is any sum not exceeding £10.
Fairlop Fair.—The fair in Hainault Forest on Friday last was attended by an immense number of persons from London; and the watermen and blockmakers of Wapping, according to annual custom, proceeded to the fair in their amphibious-looking vehicles—boats mounted on carriages rigged out like ships, and decorated with colours. Each of these vehicles was drawn by six horses, gaily dressed out, and the wives of the men in their holiday gear followed in open landaus. The booths and shows were not so numerous as on former occasions, and the restriction of the fair to one day diminished the profits of those who cater for the public. The Gipsies were uncommonly numerous, and their gains from foolish and superstitious people who had their fortunes told by the swarthy tribe were very large indeed. The thimble and pea riggers have nearly run their race. Three of these scoundrels made their appearance in the forest with their tables, but were soon dispersed by the police, and they quitted the fair amidst the hootings and execrations of the people. A boody staked his watch against one of the thimble and pea men, and of course lost it, and he then made a complaint to the police, who immediately interfered and got it back for him. In the afternoon a man about to ascend the waterman’s boat fell under the wheels, and the horses starting at the same moment he was run over, and his leg was broken. A cart was hired by his friends, in which he was conveyed, in charge of the police, to the London Hospital. The boat in its way to town caught fire while the parties belonging to it were burning blue lights, and some difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the flames. The Lea-bridge and Ilford roads were crowed with horses and vehicles, and the bustle and confusion exceeded the doings of the Derby day on the southern road. A great many went down the railway to Ilford and thence to the forest. Owing to the rain, which fell in torrents on Saturday, the booths and shows could not be removed, and remained on the ground until Monday, but nothing was allowed to be sold after Friday, and the exhibitions were closed. The forest was as much crowded on Sunday as it was on Friday, and upon this occasion they were much disappointed at finding they could obtain no refreshments. The police, acting under the orders of the magistrates, would not allow the sale of refreshments, and the visitors were obliged to retrace their steps, and obtain victuals and drink at the road-side inns. The police arrangements at the Fair were excellent.
The Chelmsford Chronicle, 14 July 1843, repeats most of the above adding:
The Maypole, at Chigwell-row, on the borders of the forest, entertained more than 2,000 guests during the day.
Fairlop Fair.—Yesterday was a regular Fairlop-day; it rained in torrents, and the beautiful forest of Hainault was like a swamp; the donkeys were almost as numerous as the visitors, but the unfavourable weather saved the poor animals from many a hard blow, as few person availed themselves of a ride. There were nearly 400 donkeys saddled and bridled in the forest, and of these 120 passed over London Bridge on their way to Fairlop at an early hour in the morning. Their taskmasters, the Gipsies, who always congregate in considerable numbers at Fairlop fair, and a few higlers, formed the majority of the company assembled; the dramatic companies of the various theatrical booths appeared in a woeful plight; the jokes of “Mister Merriman” fell harmless, terrific broadsword combats passed unnoticed, scarcely a good audience could be assembled during the whole day, and the drinking booths were almost deserted. Those amphibious vehicles, the boats rigged out like ships, and mounted on carriages, each drawn by six horses, gaily decorated with ribbons, made their appearance as usual at the fair, according to annual custom. One of them contained the blockmakers of Wapping in their holyday gear, and the other the watermen of the same place. Their wives followed in open carriages. As they entered the fair a band of music, which accompanied them, struck up; and, on passing over the spot where the gigantic oak once stood, the band played the “Brave Old Oak.” A body of the K division of police were in attendance to prevent gambling and protect the visitors, but the rain made their task a very easy one.
Drunkenness and Death at Fairlop Fair.—On Sunday evening, Harriet Milwood, a middle-aged female, who with her husband kept a large toy stall at Fairlop fair, and who had been in the habit of going to different fairs to follow the same occupation, drank to such excess as to become much intoxicated. Her husband and herself had, in consequence of some words, when the latter declared she would stop on the ground no longer, and managed to get into a light cart for the purpose of going home. When about to drive away, her husband, who had suffered much from her conduct during the evening, exclaimed with much fervour, “I wish you may break your neck before you get home.” The wretched woman took no notice of the observation, nor did she make any reply, but she had not driven away more than two hundred yards when she tumbled out of the vehicle, and falling with considerable force on her head, actually broke her neck, and in a few moments was a corpse. Her body was removed first to a booth on the ground, and afterwards to a public house in Barking side, to await the coroner’s inquest.
When the Essex Standard, 12 July 1844, reported the inquest, Harriet Milwood was became Hannah Millward and her “husband” was identified as William Page, aged 40: Hannah had “cohabited with him eight or nine years.” The couple were from Dagenham.
The story continued to be reproduced, and the Victorian’s moral problem with “cohabiting” meant Hannah was usually Page’s wife, and identified as Hannah Page.
Fairlop Fair.—The magistrates have given instructions to the police not to allow the fair annually held at Fairlop to continue longer than the first Friday in July, in pursuance of a resolution come to by the magistrates in 1840.
Fairlop Fair.—Yesterday being the first Friday in July, the annual fair, held on the spot where once stood the famed “Fairlop Oak,” in Hainault or Epping Forrest took place according to annual custom, and owing to the fineness of the day many thousands from the metropolis and the populous villages on the borders of the forest attended it. The fair, which used formerly to extend three days, the last being Sunday, is now strictly confined to one it being found that the charter under which it is held did not allow more. It is not generally known that the once famed Fairlop oak has been converted into the pulpit and reading desk in New St. Pancras church.
William Peacock and Samuel Lee were convicted on the information of David Watson, one of the constables in the employ of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for unlawfully and cruelly beating two donkeys, at Fairlop fair, on Friday, and fined 10s. each.
and longer version appears in Bell’s Weekly Messenger, 12 July 1845:
Cruelty to Animals.—At Ilford Petty Sessions, a ragged fellow, named Peacock, was charged before W. Cotton, Esq., with cruelly beating an ass at Fairlop fair. J. Smith, an officer belonging to the Royal Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said that on Friday he saw the accused driving a donkey and hitting it with a thick stick (now produced) in the most cruel manner, upon its hind quarters. The prisoner, in answer to the charge, said he was employed by a man to drive the donkey, and that his reason for beating it was because the “young gentleman” who was riding wished it to go faster. Mr. Cotton: Then you ought to have beat him and not the donkey. You are fined 5s., and the cost amounting to another 5s., or one week in Ilford goal, and hard labour. Not being able to pay he was taken to prison.—Samuel Lee, a gipsy, was charged with a similar offence. David Watson, the officer, provide that he saw the prisoner and another man driving four donkeys, which they were beating with thick sticks. Witness tried to take them both into custody, but they ran away, and the prisoner getting amongst the gipsies changed the stick which he had for a whip. The prisoner was fined 10s. The money was paid by an elderly gipsy belonging to the same tribe.
Fairlop Fair.—On Saturday, at a meeting of the Magistrates for the hundred of Beacontree, held at the Angel Inn, Ilford, instructions were issued to the police to prevent the holding of Fairlop Fair, on the Sunday in July, and restricting it to two days, viz., the first Friday and the Saturday following.
The Chair of the magistrates didn’t like this and a letter appeared on 27 June 1846:
Sir,—Observing in your paper of the 22d instant a paragraph heading Fairlop Fair, in which it is stated “that the magistrates of the hundred of Beacontree had authorised the holding of the fair on two days—Friday and Saturday,” I request you will contradict this statement, as the magistrates abide by their determination to restrict the holding of the fair to Friday only, and have given no other instructions to the police. I am, &c. WILLIAM COTTON, Chairman of the Ilford Bench. Walwood House, June 26.
However, the original story (holding the fair for two days) was widely reproduced for the next few days.
Fairlop Fair.—Yesterday this annual celebration so long the favourite resort of the East-enders, was held, but with a very scanty proportion of holiday-seekers. It owed its rise to the annual festive celebration of the birthday of Mr. Day, a block-maker of Wapping, about a century since, on which occasion he used to entertain his friends under the Fairlop oak, situate in a very romantic part of Epping forest, near Forest Gate, Ilford. After his death the annual feast was kept up in his commemoration and was largely attended by the block-makers, the members of the trade to which he belonged, who used to follow in procession, with a boat and other emblems of the trade at their head. It ultimately became a pleasure fair of considerable magnitude, which was continued on the succeeding Saturday and Sunday. In consequence, however, of the outrages committed and the accidents which occurred on the Sunday in 1840, the assemblage having increased fivefold, from the recent opening of the Eastern Counties Railway, the Magistrates resolved upon confining the fair in future to the original custom of one day. Since then it has dwindled off, the police most rigorously enforcing the directions for its limitation, and the attendance yesterday was confined to a very few pic-nic parties and wandering gipsies, whilst there was no extra appearance of bustle on the roads, which in form years were crowded.
It’s difficult to know exactly who was reporting truth. Compare the above with the Chelmsford Chronicle of 10 July 1846:
Fairlop Fair.—This annual festival, which is now confined to the first Friday in July, was held on Friday, according to custom, in Hainhault Forest. Many thousands proceeded by railway to Ilford, and thence to the fair, but the visitors who went by the old roads were still more numerous. A number of vans, flys, and other vehicles, were in requisition to convey company to the forest. Those amphibious vehicles, the Maggot and Unity were rigged out in gay style for the conveyance of the Wapping blockmakers and watermen to the fair. The Maggot and Unity are two large boats, each with three masts, fitted up with masts and rigging like those of a ship, and mounted upon carriages, each drawn by eight horses, decorated with ribbon. The wives of the blockmakers and watermen followed in open carriages. The novel procession left Wapping at an early hour, and proceeded through Stepney, Mile-end-road, towards the fair, and attracted thousands of spectators. The masts of the boats were lowered while passing under the arches of the Blackwall and Eastern Counties Railway. The fair was well laid out. The scenery in the neighbourhood of the forest was most enchanting, and the pleasure-seekers roamed about the woody dells with evident delight. We are sorry to add, that a horse in a gig took fright in the fair and running over a female caused her death.
Although most newspapers would note Fairlop fair in their weekly “calendars” the Chronicle went a step further and effectively advertised it:
Fairlop Fair.—The source of so much attraction to the inhabitants of the great metropolis, commences this day (Friday), and from the preparations that have been going on for two or three days past—especially if the weather proves auspicious—will no doubt be as attractive as those of previous years.
Reporting a sad case in the Middlesex sessions, 7th July:
Mary Anne Pedder was indicted for stealing a bead necklace, value 5s., the property of Thomas Blyth, from the person of Elizabeth Blyth.
The first witness called was Mary Anne Cripps, who stated that she was the head nurse in the ward of the London Hospital in which Mrs. Blyth was brought in in a dying state, in consequence of an accident by the upsetting of a gig while coming from Fairlop Fair. The prisoner approached closely to the bedside, and hugging the dying woman in her arms, said, “Poor dear creature, she was my next-door neighbour,” and abstracted the necklace above mentioned.
The Jury returned a guilty verdict and she was given six months hard labour with six weeks of the term to be in solitary.
Fairlop Fair.—This suburban fair, which commenced on Friday, only fully terminated on Sunday. The weather was more than ordinarily auspicious for the occasion, and the number of visitors equalled those of former years. Since the formation of the Eastern Counties’ Railway the traffic on the road is considerably lessened, as a very large proportion of person travel per rail, which runs contiguous to that portion of the forest on which the fair is held.
Edward Hilton, the proprietor of the well-known travelling menagerie, was brought before Mr. Yardley to answer two charges; the first for unlawfully resisting the police in clearing a fair, called the New Fairlop Fair, held in a field near the King Henry VIIII. public-house, in Mile-end-road; and the second for violently assaulting a police constable.—The charge was proved ...
Note that many Fairlop fair goers returned by the Mile-end-road and so with the curtailing of the fair to the original Friday, this might have been an enterprising businessman.
Curious Toll Case.—On Wednesday, W. Mahoney, was charged with assaulting G. Perry, a toll-taker at the Warren-bridge bar, Stratford. It seems the toll, which is a peculiar one, inasmuch as it can only be collected for thirty days in the year, commencing on the 21st of June, was granted to the Pole family (now represented by the Earl of Mornington), ostensibly for the purpose of preserving the fences in Epping Forest, and keeping in repair a certain prison in the vicinity for the incarceration of deer-stealers, but in reality to repay some pecuniary obligations which Charles II. was under to the above-named family. Of the prison there are now no traces, and the toll coming in such a questionable shape, and exacted only at a particular period, is looked upon by those subjected to it as a very obnoxious extraction. It occurs, too, during the celebration of Fairlop Fair, which takes place on the first Friday in July, and, though proverbial for being a rainy day, is always, from the beauty of the woodland scenery, an object of great attraction to metropolitan excursionists. ...
ROYAL PAVILION THEATRE,
WHITECHAPEL ROAD.Under the Direction of Mrs. Edwin Yarnold.
On Monday, July 3d, 1848, and during the week, will be performed a new Drama, called DANIEL DAY; OR, THE FOREST CHILD, AND THE FAIRLOP OAK. Sybil, Mrs. Edwin Yarnold; Daniel Day, Mr. C J. Bird; Marmaduke, Mr. J. B. Gaston; Crab, Mr. Artand; Cancer, Mr. H. Power. To be followed by ERNESTINE, THE SLEEP WALKER. Ernestine, Mrs. Edwin Yarnold. To conclude, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with THE WIZARD OF THE WAVE. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with TRUE BLUE; OR, THE SEABIRD’S HOME.
Fairlop fair was held on Friday, and was attended by many thousands of holiday-makers. Those amphibious vehicles, the boats, mounted on carriages, with masts and rigging, the Union, belonging to the watermen of Wapping, and the Maggot, were the principal attractions on the road. Each boat contained 25 persons and a band of musicians, and each was drawn by six horses, gaily caparisoned. The wives and families of the watermen and blockmakers followed in open landaus. A third boat was started for the first time on this occasion. It was built by Mr. Everest, a waterman, at an expense of no less than £230, for the Wapping club of waterside men. It was rigged out like a man-of-war brig and gaily decorated, and carried 29 passengers. Seven open landaus, each drawn by four horses, and containing well-dressed woman and children, followed. This novel procession, as it proceeded along the Mile-end-road, was loudly cheered by the people assembled. The forest once reached, the parties alighted and roamed about, enjoying the beauties of the woodland scenery. There were a great many theatrical booths and shows on the forest, near the site of the Old Fairlop Oak, which, after standing for three or four centuries, was partially destroyed, about 30 years ago, though the carelessness of some visitors, who lighted a fire within its trunk. The remains of this monarch of the forest were soon afterwards felled. Upwards of five thousand persons came down to Ilford by the Eastern Railway. From there it was a pleasant walk along the green lanes to the fair. Numerous omnibuses, flys, cabs, vans, and other vehicles were also in requisition, and the forest echoed with the cheers and shouts of countless thousands. The boats were illuminated on their return to London in the evening, and an immense quantity of fireworks were discharged from them at various places on their journey home.
Fairlop Fair.—Among the various fairs held in the suburbs of the metropolis, Fairlop may be considered the most attractive, and, according to annual custom, it was held on Hainnault Forest, near Ilford, on Friday. We presume most of our readers already know this fair was founded by Daniel Day, a blockmaker residing at Wapping during the last century, and whose custom it was to entertain his friends and the poor with beans and bacon under the old Fairlop Oak, which has long since fallen under the woodman’s axe. On this occasion there were three boats, being one additional to the usual number, mounted on carriages, with masts, drawn by six horses, gaily decked with ribbons, &c., each boat containing a band of music in addition to the company, which was composed of blockmakers, shipwrights, seamen, and watermen, while wives and families followed in open landaus. Refreshment booths, and the usual compliment of shows, gingerbread stalls, &c., graced the spot where the fair is held, and the number of persons present equalled those of former years. In addition the Eastern Counties’ Railway, which conveyed at least 5,000 visitors to Fairlop, omnibuses, vans, and various other descriptions of vehicles were in request, while pedestrians who wended their way thither were neither few nor unimportant when numerically considered. In the evening the Mile End road, Bow, and Stratford, were lined with persons to witness the return of the boats, which as usual elicited the cheers from the populace who had assembled to participate in the festivities of Fairlop. The fair is strictly speaking confined to Friday, yet on Sunday a large number of persons generally visit the spot; this year, however, owing to the inauspicious state of the weather, on that day the number of visitors was comparatively few and insignificant.
In a long letter, (originally appearing in the Gentleman’s Magazine, October 17?), “T.”, in discussing the Great Oak in Hoxne Wood wrote:
...we really know but little about the continuance of vegetable life. Fairlop Oak, in Hainnault Forest, which bore acorns but a very few years ago, is known to have been visited on account of its magnitude in the reign of Richard the Second.
VICTORIA THEATRE.
Another of those local historical dramas, for the production of which the management of this theatre has become so celebrated, was presented on Monday night, and has been reproduced nightly since with much success. It is entitled Daniel Day, the Blockmaker of Wapping; or, the Gipsy Tribe of Fairlop Oak. It is one of those pieces which cannot fail to be attractive from the proximity to the metropolis, of the field in which the plot is laid. Daniel Day, the hero of the piece, a young blockmaker of Wapping, is said to be the original founder of the sports of Fairlop-fair, still annually held on the first Friday in July, in whose merry-makings the blockmakers still delight to revel. The title of the piece indicates that in its development the gipsy tribe form a conspicuous feature, as they do indeed in most cases where those incidents are so much associated with the greenwood tree, and consequently the opening scene is a representation of the departure of the forest party from London for the green glades in regular gipsy marching order, and chanting in full chorus as they pass the toll-house at Mile-end-gate,
“Our backs are turned on
London town,
Broad leaf and tree before us.”
Before the party proceeds far a revolutionary feeling sets in amongst them. Wildfern (Mr. Bradshaw), a gipsy of savage and desperate nature, with whom Redfurze (Mr. F. H. Henry), another troublesome spirit, fraternised, rose in rebellion against the old leader of the tribe Noah Basle (Mr. T. H. Higgie) and grossly insulted his two hopeful sons, Cancer and Crab, who were admirably represented by Messrs. J. Howard and Forman. The result of this revolt is, that they are expelled from the tribe, their sentence of expulsion coached in the wild gipsy strain,—
“The branch in broken,
The word is spoken,
Brother from our tribe we sever;
While streams may flow,
Or wind may blow,
We meet him as a brother never.”being pronounced by Sybil (Miss Richardson), the maid of the forest, a supposed orphan, reared by the gipsy tribe, and beloved by the young blockmaker, Daniel Day. These wild sons of the forest, stung with revenge at their being thus cast out, meditate on deeds of retribution against the old gipsy chief and his favourite Sybil, in which they so far succeed. They waylay Sir Marmaduke Miles (Mr. E. Laws), the owner of the ancient Manor-house at Mile-end, while crossing the forest on a visit to the scene of the festivities at Fairlop oak, but who is rescued from their grasp by the vigilance and fortitude of Sybil, who is rewarded by being adopted by the Baronet as his daughter. These lawless men, however, still pursue the Baronet. They break into his mansion, find in an old chest a napkin stained with blood, with a miniature wrapped in it, but are again pounced upon by the ever-watchful Sybil, who is nearly paying dear for her devotion and fortitude, but is rescued from the grasp of the banditti by Daniel Day and his friends who, warned by the old gipsy of her danger, came to her rescue. At this part of the piece a strong presumption arises that Sir Marmaduke has been concerned in a murder perpetrated in the vicinity of the oak, and the charge is ultimately brought home to him, but he is rescued from his disagreeable position by Old Basle, the gipsy, who comes forward and admits having himself committed the deed, while Sir Marmaduke, on his part, admits having stumbled upon the murdered man, but finding him to be a ruffian who had seduced his wife and stolen his daughter, he regretted not the fate he had met with. In the melée which these disclosures gives rise to Wildfire rushes on the old gipsy and stabs him, and the drama closes with the announcement by the latter that Sybil, who he found with the murdered man, was the daughter of Sir Marmaduke. The merry making around the oak then takes place, the baronet is in raptures at the restoration of his daughter, and all are delighted with Daniel Day, the Wapping Blockmaker. The setting of the piece was ably sustained throughout, and it was received with much applause. The laughable burletta of Mistaken Story, was also produced, and well received, the admirable acting of Mr. J. Howard, as Mr. Piccaniny, and Mr. Forman, as Bill Williams, keeping the house in a roar of laughter.
At Ilford Petty session, July 7:
John Woodward was charged with gambling at Fairlop Fair.—Mark Jarvis, p.c. K. 312, stated that he saw the prisoner gambling with thimbles, and took him into custody.—Committed for five days.
In the now-familiar report on Fairlop the boats etc. were mentioned as usual. Some of the other points being:
Fairlop Fair.—This the most celebrated of our suburban fairs took place on Friday, the weather proving extremely auspicious for the occasion. ... Fairlop appears to have lost none of its former attractions, judging from the thousands who visited the fair on Friday, to say nothing of as many who resorted thither on Sunday. The boats, three in number ... the last boat, on its return home, had the pleasures of the day marred, by the rigging, flags, and decorations catching fire; and on its arrival opposite the Bull Inn, Stratford, most of the passengers jumped or fell out, and some were seriously injured. It appeared that a quantity of Bengal lights had accidently caught fire ...
In a somewhat poetical retribution for the various dramas hoisted on Fairlop:
Fire at the Pavilion Theatre.—This morning (Saturday) between twelve and one o’clock, as the procession from Fairlop fair was returning along the Whitechapel-road, the whole neighbourhood was thrown into an extraordinary degree of excitement, by a cry being suddenly raised that some of the persons who were amusing themselves in the public highway had set fire to the Royal Pavilion Theatre. ... The parities opposite, in order to give greater éclat to their exhibition, ignited a great many rockets, which, instead of taking the perpendicular direction, shot off horizontally, and having entered the store-room of the theatre, set the same in a regular blaze. ... Independent of the property destroyed in the store-room, the apartments under, which were most superbly furnished, have sustained great injury by water, &c. The theatre was insured in the County and Monarch Fire Offices, but the contents were not insured.
At the Ilford Petty Session, on Saturday last, Charles Holmes, for having in his possession two new silk handkerchiefs supposed to have been stolen at Fairlop Fair, was, in default of accounting for his possession of them, committed to prison for 14 days.—William Beswick, victualler, of West Ham, and John Hewitt, beer-shop keeper, of Barking, were respectively fined 40s., and 5s. with costs, for keeping their houses open during Divine service on Sunday.—Edward Smith and Joseph Rowland, charged by the police with gambling at Fairlop Fair, were committed, the former for a month, and the latter for even days.
The Chelmsford Chronicle, 12 July 1850, also reports the above, and adds of Smith and Rowland: “charged with playing at a certain game of chance, called “pricking the garter,” at Fairlop Fair, on Friday, and using violence to the police.”
The below originated in the Chelmsford Chronicle, but I’ve not been able to find it there. It was largely reprinted by the other papers:
Fairlop Fair.—This is in all probability the last year on which the above fair will be held on Hainault Forest, as the Commissioners of Woods and Forests are about effecting some material alterations in the management of waste and Crown lands, for which a bill has already been introduced in the lower house. Hainault Forest is three miles long, and half a mile broad.
Fairlop Fair.—Yesterday being the first Friday in July, the annual procession of the mast and blockmakers of the Port of London, from Wapping to Epping Forest, took place. At nine o’clock, three boats’ full, rigged and manned, and drawn by horses, left Wapping in procession, accompanied by bands of music and hundreds of people, and proceeded to the borders of Epping Forest, where once stood the Fairlop Oak, where a fair was held, immense numbers of booths and shows being collected. There was a strong body of police to preserve order. At eleven o’clock the amusements terminated. The procession on its return was not allowed to discharge fireworks, having on the last occasion set the Pavilion Theatre on fire doing so. This is the last Fairlop Fair, as the forest is about to be inclosed.
At Ilford Bench, July 5, a number of Fairlop-related cases appeared:
William Harding and Joseph Carter, two youths, were charged with attempting to pick pockets.—Jos. Benson, p.c., K. 381, stated that yesterday being Fairlop fair, he was ordered on duty at Stratford in plain clothes, and about 6 o’clock in the evening he observed the two prisoners making several attempts to pick gentlemen’s pockets in the street, and he took them into custody: he knew them both to be bad characters, and Harding had been convicted at the Old Bailey—convicted under the Vagrant Act, and committed for 21 days.
Geo. Christopher and Wm. Elcey, two of the performers at Frazer’s circus, at Fairlop fair, were charged with obstructing the police in the execution of their duty.—Inspector Proctor stated that yesterday afternoon he was called upon by Mr. Ward to go with him to Frazer’s circus to prevent a breach of the peace, as he was going to make a distress for their standing. Frazer having refused to pay his toll: he accompanied Ward to the circus, and Mr. Ward’s assistant took out one of the horses; the defendants came out of the circus, followed by a great many more persons, and the horse was rescued; the defendants were very riotous and disorderly, and obstructed the police in the execution of their duty.—Fined 5s. each and expenses, which they paid.
Several persons, apprehended by the police for gambling at Fairlop fair, were brought before the bench, and convicted and committed, some for 14 and others for 21 days.
Edward John Guirer, of Romford, was convicted of selling beer at Fairlop on Sunday last, not being licensed and fined 25s., and expenses.—Joseph Stone, of Barking, was also convicted for the like offence, and fined 25s. and expenses.
John Conway, of Romford, labourer, was convicted of assaulting p.c. Poole K. 374 at Fairlop fair, and fined 10s. and expenses, and not paying the amount, he was committed for 14 days.
Hainault forest, the site of the fair etc. is to be sold for timber (also the only reference found that mentions the Bald Hind):
OAK TIMBER—FOURTEEN THOUSAND TREES. HAINAULT FOREST, ESSEX.—To SHIPBUILDERS, Timber Merchants, Contractors, and others.—IMPORTANT and EXTENSIVE SALE of 14,000 OAK TREES, with their Lop, Top and Bark.—Also, 650 Hornbeam Pollards, situate in the King’s Woods, Hainault Forest.
MESSRS. DRIVER have been honoured with the instructions from the Right Hon. Thomas Francis Kennedy, the Commissioner in charge of Her Majesty’s Woods and Royal Forests, to OFFER for SALE, by PUBLIC AUCTION, on TUESDAY, April 18, at the Angel Inn, Ilford, at 11 for 12 precisely, in 140 Lots, each Lot comprising 100 Trees and Pollards of exceeding valuable and superior Oak Timber, with the Lop, Top, and Bark, a considerable portion of it being of large metings and fine growth, well adapted for navy and general purposes, as now standing on the North and South-East sides of the said King’s Woods, most eligibly situate for water-carriage by the River Thames, at Barking, either to the Metropolis or elsewhere, or by railway, being distant about four miles from the Romford and Ilford Stations, on the Eastern Counties Line, and about 10 miles from London by the high road, thereby affording great facilities for the transit from the forest. This timber can be recommended to the attention of navy and railway contractors, timber-merchants, builders, and others desirous of obtaining oak of first-rate character. Every tree is marked and number with white paint, denoting the Lots, and these will be shown by applying to William Laver, underkeeper, Barking side; and of John Laver, underkeeper, near the Bald Hind, Chigwell....
At Ilford Petty Session, June 26 (a possible mix-up of dates, or a very delayed case) was reported:
John Scott was convicted, on the evidence of policeman Wm. Smith, of K division of the detective police, of gambling and playing at a game called “prick in the garter,” at Fairlop fair, and was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment.
Fairlop Fair.—This fair took place last Friday, and the weather was extremely propitious for the occasion. From an early hour in the morning, vans, broughams, and all other descriptions of vehicles, down to the costermonger’s “donkey carts,” heavily laden with holiday-folk, might be seen proceeding towards Fairlop. ... The display of fireworks, was wisely prohibited by the police regulations this year. There were the usual amount of show-booths, to say nothing of the pic-nic parties who usually pay a visit to Hainault on the 1st Friday in July, by way of celebrating a fair so justly entitled to the name of “Cockayne,” from the great number of visitors who folk thither from the metropolis. The gypsies were busily engaged with the softer sex, telling fortunes; nor did even the opposite gender wholly escape from this wily race of fortune tellers. The tolls for the shows, &c., is claimed by the Earl of Mornington, as Lord of the Manor, and at one period upwards of £300 was annually collected, but of late years the toll has amounted to a considerable sum less. It is supposed that if Hainault Forest should be enclosed prior to next year the fair will be held in a sport contiguous thereto.
At the Ilford General licensing meeting:
Barking.—Old Fairlop Oak, Barking Side.—Jonathan Burton Rawlings applied for this license upon the ground of the improvement which had taken place in the neighbourhood, and stated that his house had been in the beer trade for nearly twenty-two years.
Mr. Griffin opposed for the landlord of the Maypole Inn, which was considerably within a quarter of a mile from the applicant’s house.—License refused.
A rather late prosecution at the Ilford Petty Sessions, September 11:
John Stevens, the proprietor of the Crown and Anchor booth, at Fairlop fair, appeared to answer to an information had against him by the police, for having on Sunday, the 4th of July, at Fairlop, in the parish of Barking, allowed his booth to be left standing beyond the prescribed period which had been publically made know.—The case was proved by the evidence of Mr. Proctor, police inspector of the K division, and the defendant was convicted in the penalty of 10s. and expenses.