| Where: | Rothwell, Northamptonshire starting at Holy Trinity Church on Squires Hill |
| When: | Trinity Monday |
| Time: | 6am |
Rothwell is normally a quiet market town – except for Proclamation Day which marks the start of the Rowell Trinity Fair at Rothwell in Northamptonshire and begins with a pub-crawl with a difference. It’s held on the first Monday following Trinity Sunday each year so it moves date around the end of May to the end of June depending on when Easter fell that year. The fair is held to celebrate the granting of a charter to Rothwell by King John, allowing the residents to hold a weekly market – so it’s been going for 800 years or so, though the charter read during the Proclamation dates from the time of King James I. It starts early – when the clock strikes 6 am at the west porch of Holy Trinity Church. Accompanied by a band, the bailiff on horseback (or sometimes in a horse-drawn cart) and his halberdiers and officials make their way to the church, whereupon the bailiff reads the charter to the assembled crowd. The National Anthem is played and the party are served the traditional Rowell Fair Rum and Milk to warm them up for their journey around the town and its pubs. After the first couple of stops (for refreshment!) mayhem breaks out – the crowd attempt to wrest control of the halberds from the halberdiers. Once the whistle is blown, order is restored and the group move on to the next stop – the last stopping place is the Rowell Charter Inn and the whole things ends after an hour or so (in plenty of time for breakfast!).
Helpful Hints
Trinity Sunday is the eighth Sunday after Easter, and Trinity Monday is the day following Trinity Sunday. Proclamation Day is always on Trinity Monday. A Blessing of the Fair takes place on Trinity Sunday afternoon in amongst the rides, after a Civic Service at the Church (following which the Bone Crypt will usually be open to visitors).
In 2025 it should be on Monday 16th June.
The event is also known as Rowell Fair (from local pronunciation) and it’s now a fun-fair rather than a livestock market but it still lasts for the traditional five days. While at Rothwell, look out for the unusual Market House built by local recusant Sir Thomas Tresham (who built the even more bizarre Rushton Triangular Lodge up the road), and at Holy Trinity there is a Bone Crypt, one of only 2 in the UK. Rowell Fair Tarts should be on sale in town – small curd tarts which have been associated with the fair for many years.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/308892112398/
Click here for the event website : https://rowellfair.co.uk
I think the fair being in Rothwell for a week is far too long. I think in the name of tradition an old fashioned market and a few old fashioned rides for a couple of days would be far better.
Being a proud Rowellian, whose ancestry in Rowell can be traced back to before the time of the King James Charter, I find it hard to comprehend how anybody should want to alter our great and unique traditions. The modern fair of today is a natural progression from the fairs of medieval times. A time of celebration, festivity and fun. The youth of today have very little to enjoy, and this week is a highlight of their year. Long may it continue.
Long live the Queen and the Lord of the Manor.
Hear, hear Frank!
As a keen follower of tradition, I couldn’t agree more – having a special event can give the community something to look forward to all year.
Averil
I was born in Rowell, loved the fair then and still do, it brings back a lot of happy memories.Love it.
I suppose if your not a rowellian its not the same.
I’m ver proud to be one.
Born and bred in Rothwell but no longer live there. Those that complain are of the same ilk as those who move to the countryside and complain about the country noises. Do the church bells still chime every 15 minutes by the way?
No it wouldn’t as there’s lots of people around the area and a couple of days would not be enough.
Have lived in Rothwell on and off since 1975, and have suffered the fair all this time, but wouldn’t change a thing. We are English and proud of it, this is our tradition, it is what foreigners come here to google at. Mad dogs and Englishmen.
I grew up in Rothwell in the 1970’s before moving to Canada in 1980. I loved the Rowell fair and great atmosphere.
I’d love if we could bring back the pram race on the last Sunday of Rowell fair, I used to love jumping in the water tank when i was a youngster.but before i was old enough to take part it stopped.
It’s just one week in the year surely we can put up with a little hassle in bridge street for this time
The fair is what sets Rothwell apart from other small towns and sets us on the map
Hear Hear Dorothy- there’s nothing else quite like it!
Averil
If you cut me down the middle and open it up you will read Rowellian like a stick of rock God save the Queen and the Lord of the Manor
No proclomation for the last two years. Due to pandemic.
Let’s make this one a bumper turn out.
Great Town,Great people,Great atmosphere.
Get up get involved and enjoy the tradition.
That’s the spirit!