St James’s Fair forborn

25 July · St James's, Westminster

No longer kept

London

A fair was held every year at St James’s in Westminster on or about 25 July, St James’s Day. On 17 July 1651 Parliament resolved that it should not be held that year, nor again until Parliament gave further order. Brand printed the resolution from a copy he owned.

That the fair usually held and kept yearly at St. James's, within the liberty of the city of Westminster, on or about the 25th day of July, be forborn this year

From Brand's Popular Antiquities, vol. 2, p. 467. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

The Mutton Pie at Cliffe No longer kept KentSt James's Day was reckoned the day oysters came in, and Hone records the vulgar belief that whoever ate oysters on it would never want money.
Knill’s Games at St Ives Still kept CornwallJohn Knill of St Ives left the income of an estate to trustees to pay for prizes in racing, rowing and wrestling, to be held every fifth year for ever round the mausoleum he built in 1782 on a high rock near the town.
Hops before St James’s Day Lore and belief HerefordshireAmong the folk lore of St James's Day Chambers gives a Herefordshire saying about the county's hop crop.
Garlands on the Graves on St James’s Day No longer kept LondonThe Argus newspaper of August 1790 reported that on St James's Day, which had fallen on a Sunday, crowds went to St James's churchyard to honour the graves of their friends.
St James’s oysters Lore and belief LondonOysters came in in London on St James's Day, Old Style, and it was believed that whoever ate oysters on that day would never want for money all the year.
London against Westminster on St James’s Day No longer kept LondonThe citizens of London held a yearly public wrestling trial on St James's Day.

St James’s Fair forborn

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