Midsummer Fayre 2009

This year's Midsummer Fayre took place on Saturday 13th June around Wellington's Market Square, All Saints Church and Victorian Market Hall. Introduced by the town crier and with a host of stalls set up outside the parish church, this annual event is inspired by the ancient June fayres that were being held in Wellington as far back as the 13th century, and the town's annual 'Jubilee' celebrations of the 1770s. For photos of this year's fayre,

The main sponsor of this year's event is Wellington Market Company. 

If you would also like to make a contribution and help ensure that Wellington's ancient June fayres don't disappear for another 200 years, you can make out a cheque to Sounds in The Square and post it to Anthony Nicholls, care of Ken Francis Butchers, 9 Market Street, Wellington, TF1 1DT. Please include your address and phone number / email so we can thank you! H2A will not pass on your details to any third party.

IF YOU WEREN'T AT THE FAYRE IN 2009, HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED...

MUSIC & DANCING: Award-winning Wellington Brass Band represent a musical tradition long prominent in this part of Shropshire, and are always popular. The Shrewsbury Morris Dancers provide an exciting mix of traditional Border Morris and innovative dance styles with strong musical support. Shrewsbury Morris consist of The Shrewsbury Bull and Pump Morris Men, The Shrewsbury Lasses and Shrewsbury Clog, all with their own distinctive style.

STREET PERFORMANCE: Stilt-walking, balloon-modelling, club-juggling Jack Green the Jester evoked the street theatre of old with his impressive fire show. Jack and his friends also ran a circus skills tent in front of the Parish Church, where children tried juggling and other activities for themselves. Also present were The Loyal Newport Volunteers who, like our own Wellington Fencibles, were formed in 1803 to help resist an anticipated French Invasion. Purely ceremonial these days, we sense that the Newports are nonetheless ready should the French get any funny ideas!

STALLS & CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS: Outside the parish church are around 30 stalls selling homemade cakes, confectionary, honey & preserves; books & paintings; plants & woodcrafts, textiles, jewellery & other products made in Shropshire. There were also demonstrations from wool-spinners and a traditional pole-lathe turner.

THE REVIVAL OF THE JUBILEE PROCESSION

The highlight of the day, this short promenade from the parish church to Market Square and back includes many of the same costumed characters who appeared in the procession of 1773, along with a handful of other local Georgian personalities. Here are a few characters that visitors were able to look out for: 

Venus, Bacchus & Flora (from Roman mythology)Harlequin & Columbine (from ‘Italian Comedy’ popular in 18th century England)King George III & Queen CharlotteDr William Withering and the Wise Woman who inspired his discovery of the drug digitalisThe Plimer Brothers, renowned miniaturist painters who were sons of a Wellington clockmakerSir George Downing, high living rake who was raised by his uncle Lord Forester at

  Dothill Hall in Wellington

Mr Edward Houlston, town book seller of the 1770s and founder of a family

  business that became a major publishing firm in the early 19th century

Rounding off the day at the 2009 event was the Midsummer Barn Dance at Wrockwardine Village Hall. Music was provided by Odd Socks celidh band, and guests enjoyed a Shropshire-sourced barbecue, Shropshire real ale and even Shropshire wine from the vineyard at nearby Wroxeter.