| Where: | Bourne, Lincs at the corner of Eastgate and Spalding Road |
| When: | A Monday late in April |
| Time: | 7pm |
Bourne in Lincolnshire is the setting for an unusual property auction in April each year. Whitebread Meadow is a small pasture and an auction is held for its grazing rights according to the terms of Matthew William Clay’s will of 1742 – while the bidding takes place two children race over a 200-yard course and the last bid made before the winning child returns is the succesful one. Formerly the funds were used to buy loaves for distribution to the poor but nowadays the cash is given to local charities. Expect entertainments like morris dancing from local side Bourne Borderers, and their mummers play which includes local characters such as Oliver Cromwell as well as universal ones like St George and his dragon.
Helpful Hints
It’s usually held on the last Monday in April (it moves a week either forward or back if the last Monday falls on a Bank Holiday).
In 2024 it was on Monday April 29th- 2025 date is yet to be confirmed but likely to be Monday 28th.
Click here for the Bourne Borderers’ website : http://www.bourneborderers.co.uk
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/17821505074
Hi
Great website as ever and very useful, however thought I’d better post to correct this, before people descend on Bourne! Many folklore books have the wrong, the date is the last Monday in April. This year 30th. I did try to post this message some while back but the server prevented me from doing so. Please do check out my embryoinic website on calendar customs as well, perhaps you may want to follow it..All the best Ross
Hi Ross,
Thanks for the info! I’ve had a look at your website and it’s really interesting – will keep looking at your progress! I’ve had a look at the website for the Bourne Borderers Morris side and they have Monday April 23rd as the date for 2012, as they’re performing on the day. I’ll double check with them and see what the “formula” is for working out the dating of this event – it’s obviously a tricky one to predict. Will let you know what I find out!
Kind Regards,
Averil
Hi Ross!
I made contact with the Bourne Borderers who perform at the event. Looks like it’s always a Monday but that the week can very. You’re quite right that this year it’s on April 30th but I quote here from my reply:”You are absolutely right to ask – there have been many dates suggested this year, and we need to change it on the website. Enquiries tell us that it is now, definitively, taking place on Monday 30th April.” So maybe there isn’t a magic formula for working out the date in advance after all! If I hear any further info, I’ll pass it on to you. Meanwhile, if you find any other dating anomalies please let me know as I don’t want to mislead anyone. Looking forward to monitoring your progress through the year and seeing more of your photos – I’ve bookmarked your site!
Kind Regards,
Averil