Fairlop fair and its founder; or, facts and fun for the forest frolickers

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

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text excerpt

[Mr Daniel Day, 1683-1767, a ‘block and pump maker, of the parish of St John, Wapping’, founded the Fairlop fair]

 Long previous to Mr Day’s exit Fairlop fair was known all over Essex, and the adjoining counties ; and naturally the inhabitants of Wapping, and the eastern parts of London, could not be ignorant of it, consequently it was attended by a vast concourse of people. The engine-makers, pump-makers, and block-makers of Wapping, and other places contiguous to the river, a few years before Mr Day’s death [1767], to the amount of about thirty of forty, every year went to the fair in a boat made of one piece of entire fir, covered with an awning, mounted on a coach-carriage, drawn by six horses with flags, streamers, and pendants flying, and a band of music, attended by a great many persons on horseback, in carriages, and on foot.  This custom, on the first Friday in every July, has been successfully observed to this time [1840s] in compliment, and commemoration of their old friend and “brother chip” to whose pious memory they never fail to drink […] [T]he mirth and festivity, gypsying, archery, donkey-riding, swinging, &c. are still to be witnessed to a great extent. Long may Fairlop’s Friday continue to be joyously looked forward to by all as “the good Day’s” day of “fun and jollity !”

excerpt from 'Fairlop fair and its founder; or, facts and fun for the forest frolickers' pp. 10 (241 words)

1521812006139:

1521812006139