Collection GB 0074 CLC/308 - BARTHOLOMEW FAIR

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/308

Title

BARTHOLOMEW FAIR

Date(s)

  • 164--1854 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The fair was founded at Smithfield by Rahere, founder of the Priory and Hospice dedicated to St Bartholomew. Following a royal charter of 1133 the Priory received the tolls of the cloth fair, held annually for three days from the eve of St Bartholomew's Day. The Corporation of London held a cattle fair at the same time and constantly disputed the rights to tolls. In 1445 the City became joint Lords of the Fair, taking full control from 1604. In the seventeenth century the fair became more important as a centre of general entertainment than a cloth fair, and there were numerous booths offering different attractions. The City authorities, however, increasingly saw the fair as encouraging public disorder, and the fair was suppressed in 1855. It was replaced in 1866 by Smithfield Market.

A Court of Piepowders was organised by the local government of an area specifically to handle cases arising from events at a fair; such as disputes between merchants, thefts, and acts of violence.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/308 164--1854 Collection 3 production units. Bartholomew Fair , market and entertainments at Smithfield

The fair was founded at Smithfield by Rahere, founder of the Priory and Hospice dedicated to St Bartholomew. Following a royal charter of 1133 the Priory received the tolls of the cloth fair, held annually for three days from the eve of St Bartholomew's Day. The Corporation of London held a cattle fair at the same time and constantly disputed the rights to tolls. In 1445 the City became joint Lords of the Fair, taking full control from 1604. In the seventeenth century the fair became more important as a centre of general entertainment than a cloth fair, and there were numerous booths offering different attractions. The City authorities, however, increasingly saw the fair as encouraging public disorder, and the fair was suppressed in 1855. It was replaced in 1866 by Smithfield Market.

A Court of Piepowders was organised by the local government of an area specifically to handle cases arising from events at a fair; such as disputes between merchants, thefts, and acts of violence.

Deposited in the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, which merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records relating to Bartholomew Fair, inclduing pie powder court book, 1790-1854; historical notes, press cuttings and other notes, ca. 1641-ca. 1848; and accounts of receipts and expenditure for Bartholomew Fair, 1671. They were catalogued at various dates by members of Guildhall Library staff.

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

Restricted access: please see staff.

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

August to October 2010. Bartholomew Fair , market and entertainments at Smithfield Information sources Records and correspondence Records (documents) Court records Leisure Smithfield Leisure time activities Cultural events Fairs (entertainment) Administration of justice Courts Piepowder courts Trade Domestic trade Fairs (trade) City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited in the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, which merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records relating to Bartholomew Fair, inclduing pie powder court book, 1790-1854; historical notes, press cuttings and other notes, ca. 1641-ca. 1848; and accounts of receipts and expenditure for Bartholomew Fair, 1671. They were catalogued at various dates by members of Guildhall Library staff.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Restricted access: please see staff.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area