On Saturday the 31st of October
2015 I took a journey to Nottingham to attend the second Martinmas Fair in the
grounds of the Priory Church of Saint Anthony of Lenton. The event was
organised as part of the Lenton Living History Day, first held in twelfth
century the Martinmas Fair was revived in 2014.
Lenton was once a separate village that was
absorbed into the city borough of Nottingham only in Victorian times. Long
before that however, Lenton was a significant religious estate, with a Cluniac Priory
of the Benedictine Order. The Priory was before the reformation, one of a large
number of Benedictine Houses (Abbeys and Priories), across the Midlands and an
important landowner.
Martinmas falls today on the eleventh of
November and before the reformation (and the later 1752 calendar changes), was
an important agricultural and church festival. It was therefore appropriate that
a modern community event, taking its name from a festival of medieval origin, should
be held in the grounds of what was once, one of the most important local
religious houses.
Spread across the grounds of the church and
the adjoining council land, were a number stalls and displays, many provided by
local and some not so local organisations. These included presentations of medieval
combat provided by Team Falchion and English Combat, a falconry display from
Hawks of Steel and static displays from York Archaeology, the
Lenton Local History, an Apothecary, a woodcutter
a spinner. A fire display was provided by Fields of Fire, Anglo-Saxon history was
represented by Da Engliscan Gesidas (the English Companions), while dancing and
music was provided by Peasant’s Revolt and the Nottingham Waites. There were
several local charities represented, amongst these and
perhaps most importantly, the local food bank charity Himmah.
A sad reflection upon our modern society that such a charity should even be
necessary.
An assortment of VIP guests passed through during the day,
including Ashley Mortimer a trustee of the Centre for Pagan Studies and the
Doreen Valiente Foundation, the present Sheriff of Nottingham Councillor
Mohammed Saghir, Tim Pollard and Sally Chappell; the Robin Hood and Maid Marion
of Nottingham Castle.
The only negative point and indeed the only negative comments I heard
during the entire day, were regarding two overtly Pagan stalls being asked by a
representative of the church, to move off church land to the adjoining council land.
Since many of those attending based upon the jewellery and choice of costume
worn, were Pagan. Plus taking into account that many of these present were
involved in the Nottingham Interfaith Initiative, this was something of a PR
own goal.
Indeed, although primarily based around local history, this was a community
event with a very strong multicultural element. The diversity of Nottingham was
well represented by the attendees, the stalls and the food available for
purchase.
I spent a rather pleasant afternoon wandering amongst the crowd,
admiring the stalls, watching the displays, shopping at the numerous business stalls
present and chatting to the historical experts available. I particularly
enjoyed the medieval music provided both in the grounds and in the church
itself.
I found the day educational and a pleasure to attend. I sincerely
hope that this revived fair, with such a wonderful historical pedigree, will
continue for many more years to come.
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