Summercourt fair
Encyclopedia
Summercourt fair is a Charter fair
held annually in Summercourt
, a village five miles (8 km) south-east of Newquay
in Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. The fair is held during the last week of September each year. It is one of the largest fairs in Cornwall and is over 800 years old.
Charles Henderson
, a noted a historian and antiquarian of Cornwall, researched the fair in the early years of the twentieth century for his Essays in Cornish History and Cornwall; A Guide. He found that the fair evolved from "The Long Fayre" held in Bodmin
which dated back before the 11th century. The fair moved west to St Enoder
parish where it was held throughout the early middle ages
, first at Penhale
before moving to Summercourt in the reign (1307–1327) of King Edward II.
Documents in the care of Cornwall Council include a reference to the customs, rights, and history of the Charter dating back as far as 1234.
The fair was traditionally held on 14th September until 1752 when Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar
. The change involved correcting the calendar by 11 days so the fair day changed to 25th September.
Arthur Quiller-Couch
refers to Summercourt fair in The Astonishing History of Troy Town (written in 1888).
The modern fair runs from the third Thursday in September with the main market day the following Monday. Apart from the market, the principal attraction is the funfair
provided by travelling showmen
of The Showmens Guild's western section . The funfair lessee is David Rowland and Sons.
Newquay based artist Ruarri Joseph has written a song called Summer Court Fair - 1995. It appears on his first album Tales of Grime and Grit
Charter fair
A charter fair in England is a street fair or market which was established by Royal Charter. Many charter fairs date back to the Middle Ages, with their heyday occurring during the 13th century...
held annually in Summercourt
Summercourt
Summercourt is a village in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is in the civil parish of St Enoder five miles south-east of Newquay...
, a village five miles (8 km) south-east of Newquay
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The fair is held during the last week of September each year. It is one of the largest fairs in Cornwall and is over 800 years old.
Charles Henderson
Charles G. Henderson
Charles Gordon Henderson was a historian and antiquarian of Cornwall.Charles Henderson's only quarrel with Cornwall was that it had given him no more than a quarter of his blood. His father, Major J. S. Henderson, was half Scottish and half of the Irish family of Newenham: his mother was a...
, a noted a historian and antiquarian of Cornwall, researched the fair in the early years of the twentieth century for his Essays in Cornish History and Cornwall; A Guide. He found that the fair evolved from "The Long Fayre" held in Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
which dated back before the 11th century. The fair moved west to St Enoder
St Enoder
St. Enoder is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated five miles southeast of Newquay.The nearest village is Summercourt half-a-mile to the south and other settlements include Fraddon, Penhale, Indian Queens and Trevarren.The parish church is 15th century...
parish where it was held throughout the early middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, first at Penhale
Penhale
Penhale is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately six miles east-southeast of Newquay and ten miles west-southwest of Bodmin.The village is on the course of the A30 trunk road...
before moving to Summercourt in the reign (1307–1327) of King Edward II.
Documents in the care of Cornwall Council include a reference to the customs, rights, and history of the Charter dating back as far as 1234.
The fair was traditionally held on 14th September until 1752 when Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
. The change involved correcting the calendar by 11 days so the fair day changed to 25th September.
Arthur Quiller-Couch
Arthur Quiller-Couch
Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch was a Cornish writer, who published under the pen name of Q. He is primarily remembered for the monumental Oxford Book Of English Verse 1250–1900 , and for his literary criticism...
refers to Summercourt fair in The Astonishing History of Troy Town (written in 1888).
The modern fair runs from the third Thursday in September with the main market day the following Monday. Apart from the market, the principal attraction is the funfair
Traveling carnival
A traveling carnival is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skill, thrill acts, animal acts or sideshow curiosities. A traveling carnival is not set up at a permanent location, like an amusement park, but is moved from...
provided by travelling showmen
Showman
Showman can have a variety of meanings, usually by context and depending on the country.- Australia :Travelling showmen are people who run amusement and side show equipment at regional shows, state capital shows, events and festivals throughout Australia...
of The Showmens Guild's western section . The funfair lessee is David Rowland and Sons.
Newquay based artist Ruarri Joseph has written a song called Summer Court Fair - 1995. It appears on his first album Tales of Grime and Grit