Banbury Michaelmas Fair

The Charter and Royal Connection

The charter stipulates that the fair should be held on the first Thursday after Old Michaelmas Day, a tradition that has evolved into the modern Michaelmas Fair as we know it today. The first mention of a fair in Banbury appears in a charter from Henry II, who granted an annual fair for Whitsun week, demonstrating that fair traditions in the town stretch back even further, potentially to the 12th century.

By 1718, King George I granted a New Charter to the local people, further cementing the fair’s place in Banbury’s history. This makes the Michaelmas Fair one of the oldest continuing fairs in the region, with roots going back many generations.

Origins of the Hiring Fair

Banbury’s Michaelmas Fair originated as what was called a Hiring fair or “Mop Fair” and it dates back some 600 to 700 years. The fair’s original purpose was not for amusement, but for employment – functioning as the historical equivalent of today’s employment agencies and online job websites.

Farm workers, labourers, domestic servants and some craftsmen would work for their employer for a year at a time, from October to October. At the end of their employment they would attend the Hiring Fair dressed in their Sunday best clothes.

The prospective workers would gather in the street or market place, often sporting some sort of badge or tool to denote their speciality:

Potential employers would move amongst them discussing experience and terms and, if they were thought fit, hire them for the coming year. Once agreement was reached the employer would give the employee a small sum of money (the “Hiring Shilling”) and the employee would remove the item signifying their trade and wear bright ribbons to indicate they had been hired.

There was even a “Runaway Fair” held a few weeks later, where workers who were unhappy with their new jobs could seek fresh employment, offering a second chance for both workers and employers.

The Famous Nursery Rhyme

The nursery rhyme/song with which we are all familiar, derives from the hiring fairs. Johnny, on securing employment for the year, had promised to give his sweetheart the ribbons and a few trinkets.

Historical Development: 14th-15th Centuries

By 1836 there were 13 fairs, several of which were connected with the buying and selling of livestock. Four years earlier 4,600 sheep, 1,220 cows, 300 pigs and 200 horses were brought to a Michaelmas Fair otherwise known as the great hiring fair. The event was the peak of Banbury’s trading and recreational year.

Because of its renown, the vast crowds included farmers from the north of England hoping to engage workers and the Army looking for recruits. However most noticeable from the mid-19th century onwards was the growing importance of the pleasure fair.

The Victorian Era: Peak of Popularity

1855: A Record Year

In 1855 some 20,000 visitors (1851 population of Banbury 8,793) descended on the Thursday. Inevitably this produced a dense mass of people who were drawn especially to the front of the town hall where they discovered Sangers Royal Circus and not far away swinging boats, a shooting gallery, peep shows and more than 100 nut stalls.

1856: Similar Success

The fair of 1856 attracted a similar number of people so that “at certain points in the Market Place and Cow Fair (area in front of the town hall) the thronging was terrific”.

20th Century Revival

1919: Post-War Recovery

In 1919 those who did attend found a fair short of its main attractions. The centre of Market Place was occupied by various small amusements rather than the likes of Mr Collins’s roundabouts. However the short walk to the Cow Fair revealed Wilson’s brilliantly lit switchback railway and for fortune telling services there was a veritable army of character readers and palmists.

1933: Growth and Technical Innovation

Fourteen years later clairvoyants targeted Banbury because the like of such people had been banned from Giles Fair in Oxford.

Overall and since the end of the First World War, the fair had grown substantially in size. In the view of William Wilson, the owner, it was one of the best and only outmatched for scale by Mitcham and Nottingham.

1938: Pre-War Expansion

On the eve of the Second World War agreement was reached between Banbury Borough Council and the fair owners whereby shows and stalls could get into town earlier than the usual noon on Wednesday. Despite this opportunity some attractions did not make it to Banbury until evening as they had been at Stratford Mop.

1945: Post-War Continuation

In 1945 those who went to the fair found that many of the pre-war attractions were still present. As of old the Market Place and Cow Fair offered space for the larger amusements and patrons found the radio cars, dodgems and speedways.

Recent Developments & Modern Traditions

The Golden Key Ceremony

In keeping with a tradition that goes back centuries, the fair continues to be officially opened by the Chairman of Cherwell District Council and the Town Mayor. A member of the Wilson family, who own the fair, presents them with a giant golden key. The dignitaries then tour the town centre, touching rides with the key to grant free turns for attending children – a beloved tradition that brings joy to local families.

2020: The Pandemic Year

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 fair. To uphold the fair’s historical Charter rights dating back to 1554, a small traditional fairground game was placed in Banbury Market Place as a symbolic gesture, keeping the centuries-old tradition alive even during unprecedented times.

2023-Present: The Four-Day Extension

In 2023, following a request from William Wilson MBE of Bob Wilson Funfairs, Cherwell District Council granted permission to extend the fair from its traditional three-day run (Wednesday to Friday) to four days, adding Saturday. This successful trial has continued, with the extra day allowing more families to enjoy the rides and bringing additional visitors to support the town centre’s economy.

Modern Attractions

Today’s fair features a wide variety of rides and attractions for all ages, including:

Banbury Fair Through the Decades

Grateful thanks to Tugboat Jim and the late Frank Wells for this 1960’s footage

Modern Footage

A Living Tradition

For hundreds of years, Banburyshire residents have flocked to Market Place and Bridge Street for this annual event, which has become one of the most famous travelling funfairs in Britain. The fair’s location has expanded over the centuries – historically restricted to Market Place and Bridge Street, it has also occupied various sites including the old bus station (now Castle Quay), old Spiceball Park (now the leisure centre), the old Britannia works ground (now the bowling alley and Matalan), and areas by Banbury Cross and North Bar.

Today, the Michaelmas Fair remains an important date on the diary of Banburyshire residents, continuing a chartered tradition that spans over 400 years and connects modern Banbury with its medieval past. The Wilson family’s stewardship of this historic event ensures that future generations will continue to experience the lights, sounds, and excitement that have defined this beloved autumn tradition for centuries.