Bartholomew Fair

Today is St Bartholomew's Day, which is associated with one of Britain's largest and longest lasting historical market days.

The play Bartholomew Fair (1614) by Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637), depicts the customs associated with the popular English fair held annually on this day at Smithfield (home of two famed monasteries – St Bartholomew the Great and Charterhouse) in the north-western part of London. Jonson’s play is peopled with balladeers, stall holders, prostitutes and cut-purses.

Bartholomew Fair began with a vision. Rahere, the jester of King Henry I, said he had seen the apostle Bartholomew in a vision and he had directed him to found a church and hospital in his honour. After the work was done, Rahere established a fair which was to begin on his patron’s day, and go for three days. It lasted from 1133 to 1855 ...

Tagged: calendar+customs, uk, england, fairs, history, saints