Stow Fair was an English

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

fair inaugurated in 1233 and held at Stow Green Hill in Lincolnshire. The Prior of Sempringham was granted permission in 1268 to hold this annual fair, from 23 to 25 June, confirming an earlier charter. The fair continued until living memory, being run as a

horse fair A horse fair is a (typically annual) fair where people buy and sell horses. In the United Kingdom there are many fairs which are traditionally attended by Romani people and travellers who converge at the fairs to buy and sell horses, meet with fri ...

until 1954. It seems likely that earlier fairs were held on the same days, one of which is the

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context d ...

of St Ætheldreda, long associated with the site. Historian Graham Platts' view is that there should be scepticism over a belief that the fair developed from earlier

summer solstice The summer solstice, also called the estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere ( Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer ...

rites. The

North Kesteven North Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The district is located to the east of Nottinghamshire, north-east of Leicestershire and south of the city of Lincoln. Its council, North Kesteven District Council, is bas ...

Council has erected an information board at the site, with historical text and a photograph of the horse fair in 1908.

Location

Stow Fair was held at the now Stow Green Hill, next to

Mareham Lane Mareham Lane is an unclassified road between Graby and Sleaford in Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately long. The Roman Road For most of its length Mareham Lane follows the route of a minor Roman road, and the name is also used for that Ro ...

between

Sleaford Sleaford is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Centred on the former parish of New Sleaford, the modern boundaries and urban area include Quarrington, Lincolnshire, ...

and

Rippingale Rippingale is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The population of the civil parish was 929 at the 2011 census. The village is situated on the A15 road, about north from Bourne. Rippingale is ...

via Threekingham. This, is thought to be the route of a

Roman Road Roman roads ( la, viae Romanae ; singular: ; meaning "Roman way") were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, and were built from about 300 BC through the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Re ...

aligned with King Street. The location is on the edge of the Limestone hills, looking North over the fen country toward Sleaford. It is toward the end of a small ridge of high ground pushing east into the fen from Walcott. The field is around above sea level. It would have been a commanding position at the time. A nearby farm is called Stow Farm, and the lane into

Horbling __NOTOC__ Horbling is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the B1177, south-east of Sleaford, north-east of Grantham and north of Billingborough. Village population recorded in the ...

is called Stow Lane. The area is signposted "Stow" from the A15 at Threekingham Few

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

remains have been found along the route of Mareham Lane. A fenced field at the corner of Mareham Lane and Stow Lane bears a notice board with historical information. The land is owned by the Crown Commissioners and farmed under a tenancy. Pedestrian access to the site is permitted, although metal detection is forbidden. Originally the fair could have extended over a larger area, and the field is a

Scheduled Ancient Monument In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...

.RSM no. 22610

References

* Some information about the fair is from a notice board erected at the site. {{Lincolnshire, state=collapsed 1233 establishments in England Annual fairs Archaeological sites in Lincolnshire Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England Fairs in England Recurring events established in 1233 Recurring events disestablished in 1954 North Kesteven District 1954 disestablishments in England Festivals established in 1233 Charter fair

Location

See also

References