Medieval History
In the month of September, Stourbridge Common on the outskirts of Cambridge is a lush and pleasant water meadow, frequented by dog walkers, morning joggers and nonchalantly masticating cattle. Scroll back to this very spot several hundred years ago and the air would have been rich with the sounds of tradesmen?s animated chatter, the sawing and hammering of timber, and travelling people tramping down the rough road. Barges and wherries laden with goods would have replaced the sleek college eights skimming the River Cam. Out on the field, carefully measured rows of wooden booths were multiplying, assembling the streets of the most renowned medieval hub of trade, entertainment and revelry: Stourbridge Fair.
For hundreds of years the area known as Stourbridge Common was home to possibly the largest fair of medieval Europe; now all that remains is just a scattering of street names in the east of Cambridge. Garlic row, Mercers Row and Oyster Row are tastes of the huge range of produce bought and sold at this momentous annual event.
The Fair dates back 800 years to 1211, when King John issued a Royal Charter giving the Leper Chapel at Steresbrigge the right to hold a small fund-raising fete. Built on the boundary of Cambridge, the Chapel was part of an abbey that provided care for Cambridge town?s sick and contagious. Growing steadily, the Fair became immensely popular and enticed crowds from all over the country: craftsmen, tradesmen, travellers, nobility, intellectuals, and some of the most famous names in history. For a few weeks a year, it transformed this grazing common into a lively, industrious destination. In 18th century writer Daniel Defoe?s words, Stourbridge Fair became ?not only the greatest in the whole nation, but in the world?.
Click here to read this article from the University of Cambridge
- Norman Residents, Students Enjoy Annual Medieval Fair Over Weekend
The annual Medieval Fair took place this weekend, bringing thousands of Norman residents out to Reaves Park. While most people milled around the fair shopping and throwing axes at a wall, local actors and actresses were in full performance-mode to help...
- Sarasota's Medieval Fair Compares Peasants Revolt Of 1381 With Occupy Movement
The Occupy movement is spreading across the globe because people are tired of the 1%'s greed forcing the 99% further into poverty and wage slavery. But a theatrical rendition in Sarasota Sunday reminded people this isn't the first time in history...
- Medieval Remains Discovered At Cambridgeshire Pub
Human remains believed to be from medieval times have been discovered at the Red Lion at Whittlesford Bridge. Extensive work is underway to renovate the historic pub near Duxford during which two burial sites dating back to up to 700 years ago were discovered....
- Middle Ages Return To Norman With 35th Annual Medieval Fair
Knights, jesters, maidens and minstrels will stage their own Norman conquest this weekend during the 35th annual Medieval Fair at Reaves Park. The free fair, open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, is the state's largest weekend event and...
- Cfp: Authority And Gender In Medieval And Renaissance Chronicles
Authority and Gender in Medieval and Renaissance Chronicles Cambridge International Chronicles Symposium (CICS) 17-19 July 2010, University of Cambridge The second biennial Cambridge International Chronicles Symposium (CICS) follows the success of our...
Medieval History
The 800-year-old story of Stourbridge Fair
In the month of September, Stourbridge Common on the outskirts of Cambridge is a lush and pleasant water meadow, frequented by dog walkers, morning joggers and nonchalantly masticating cattle. Scroll back to this very spot several hundred years ago and the air would have been rich with the sounds of tradesmen?s animated chatter, the sawing and hammering of timber, and travelling people tramping down the rough road. Barges and wherries laden with goods would have replaced the sleek college eights skimming the River Cam. Out on the field, carefully measured rows of wooden booths were multiplying, assembling the streets of the most renowned medieval hub of trade, entertainment and revelry: Stourbridge Fair.
For hundreds of years the area known as Stourbridge Common was home to possibly the largest fair of medieval Europe; now all that remains is just a scattering of street names in the east of Cambridge. Garlic row, Mercers Row and Oyster Row are tastes of the huge range of produce bought and sold at this momentous annual event.
The Fair dates back 800 years to 1211, when King John issued a Royal Charter giving the Leper Chapel at Steresbrigge the right to hold a small fund-raising fete. Built on the boundary of Cambridge, the Chapel was part of an abbey that provided care for Cambridge town?s sick and contagious. Growing steadily, the Fair became immensely popular and enticed crowds from all over the country: craftsmen, tradesmen, travellers, nobility, intellectuals, and some of the most famous names in history. For a few weeks a year, it transformed this grazing common into a lively, industrious destination. In 18th century writer Daniel Defoe?s words, Stourbridge Fair became ?not only the greatest in the whole nation, but in the world?.
Click here to read this article from the University of Cambridge
- Norman Residents, Students Enjoy Annual Medieval Fair Over Weekend
The annual Medieval Fair took place this weekend, bringing thousands of Norman residents out to Reaves Park. While most people milled around the fair shopping and throwing axes at a wall, local actors and actresses were in full performance-mode to help...
- Sarasota's Medieval Fair Compares Peasants Revolt Of 1381 With Occupy Movement
The Occupy movement is spreading across the globe because people are tired of the 1%'s greed forcing the 99% further into poverty and wage slavery. But a theatrical rendition in Sarasota Sunday reminded people this isn't the first time in history...
- Medieval Remains Discovered At Cambridgeshire Pub
Human remains believed to be from medieval times have been discovered at the Red Lion at Whittlesford Bridge. Extensive work is underway to renovate the historic pub near Duxford during which two burial sites dating back to up to 700 years ago were discovered....
- Middle Ages Return To Norman With 35th Annual Medieval Fair
Knights, jesters, maidens and minstrels will stage their own Norman conquest this weekend during the 35th annual Medieval Fair at Reaves Park. The free fair, open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, is the state's largest weekend event and...
- Cfp: Authority And Gender In Medieval And Renaissance Chronicles
Authority and Gender in Medieval and Renaissance Chronicles Cambridge International Chronicles Symposium (CICS) 17-19 July 2010, University of Cambridge The second biennial Cambridge International Chronicles Symposium (CICS) follows the success of our...