Lively programme for St John's Fair 2008

Following the success of last year’s fair, which achieved international media coverage, Witheridge residents are once again planning a lively programme for their St John's Fair on Saturday 21st June.

Part of the North Devon Festival, this year’s fair will have more attractions and entertainment for all the family than ever before. It will include marching bands, majorettes, jazz, fortune telling, Punch and Judy, vintage tractors, farm animals, children’s races, an egg throwing competition and fun dog show (all dogs welcome!).

The grand parade starts at 10.30am on Saturday 21st June, and the fun continues until the end of the afternoon. The town criers’ Devon Championship, which has been held annually in Witheridge since 1992, is again taking place as part of the Fair.

This year, for the first time, the festivities will include a Ceilidh in the Parish Hall on Saturday evening, with the well known Oggle Band. The band has a reputation for being one of the liveliest, most entertaining, ceilidh dance bands in the South West, with a rich, varied sound that won’t let you keep still.

The weekend is launched on Friday 20th June with an evening of hilarious Laurel & Hardy silent films. Pianist Stephen Horne will be on hand to provide live accompaniment to the films – just how it used to be.

To book tickets for either evening please call Gill on 01884 860557.

One of the aims of the fair is to provide an opportunity for local organisations and charities to raise money through street stalls. Spaces are also available for street stalls and attractions from commercial organisers and bookings are now being accepted. If you would like to reserve a space please contact Vivienne on 01884 861147 or Jennie on 01884 860209.

St John’s Fair is packed with activities and entertainment. It guarantees fun for all the family and is a great way to spend a weekend in June.


"We, Henry The Third of England, in this year of grace Twelve Hundred and Forty Eight, grant to you, our loyal servant Robert, son of Payne, Lord of the Manor of Witheridge (and your heirs) A Fair, to be held annually on the Eve, Day and Morrow of the Feast of St John the Baptist."

By the 14th Century, with the horse providing not only the quickest means of travel, but also the most effective method of transportation of goods, along with its widespread use on the land, there were millions of horses in England. This led to the growth of the horse market, or Horse Fair as they were commonly known, and dealing with work horses, 'soldiers', which were horses for the Army, and carriage horses and fine ponies. Witheridge Fair, and more specifically its April fairs, became popular for its horse sales, with householders often needing to barricade their homes against invasion by these animals, as they were driven, like cattle and sheep, via Lapford Station to other parts of Devon and beyond. Many of the original customs of the Charter Fair fell by the wayside around this time with the June Fair celebrated simply as a Great Market.

In 1887, Bostocks famous Royal Menagerie visited Witheridge Fair. This enticing exhibition of wild beasts, which included lions, tigers, wolves, elephants, camels, monkeys, and many other animals, was one of a number of travelling menageries, which, in the nineteenth century were travelling the length and breath of these islands showing their exhibits. For many, they gave a natural history lesson, and it is said that Menagerie owners considered themselves as teachers of the crowds," for had it not been for them, people would not have known of wild animals." The right to be called Royal was granted after Queen Victoria called the menagerie perform for her at Windsor.

The Fair, traditionally based around the village square, had stalls and rides, and started with the reading of a copy of the original Fair Charter, continued right up to the early 1930s when is was discontinued. However in 1991, thanks largely to the efforts of Peggy Miles who researched the Fair history back to its Fitzpaine origins, the Fair returned, and it is now the climax of a weeklong series of events, and, as part of the Fair, Witheridge is now the host to the Official Devon Town Criers Championship.