The new www.llantwitmajorvictorianfair.co.uk website is almost ready for launch. Only one thing is holding us back, and it is something that has been said for several years.
Officially, the Victorian Fair has always been held on the nearest Saturday to June 22nd, which is the traditional Annwyl Day, an event exclusive to Llantwit Major. We have discovered information that disagrees with this, stating that Annwyl Day was celebrated on May 3rd until 1907.
If any historians are reading this, your advice would be appreciated! We are looking into this and hope to bring you the new official website in the coming week.
Annwyl Day Taken from www.red4.co.uk
On May Day servants change their places in Wales half-yearly rents are paid, farms are taken, and house agreements and leases are signed. Llantwit Major, in Glamorgan, was renowned for a celebration held from time immemorial on May 3. It was called Llantwit's Annwyl, or Darling or Pet Day. Tradition states that an Irish pirate named O'Neil had for many years committed great havoc along the coast. Both sides of the Bristol Channel suffered at his hands, and many schemes were arranged to punish the offender. By-and-by the women of Llantwit set their wits working, and with success. The best-looking matrons and maidens in the town dressed themselves up in fine raiment, and went down to the meadows near Colhugh Point. There they danced and sang and held festivity until O'Neil and his men appeared in the offing. It was well known that the Irish pirate was exceedingly susceptible to the charms of women. Therefore, when he landed at Colhugh, he and his men hastened to join the fair ladies. So well were the pirates received, and so kindly were they treated, that the afternoon passed quickly. While in the midst of the dance one of the girls escaped without being noticed. She roused the men of Llantwit, and before O'Neil and his companions were aware of it they were surrounded and captured. The story goes that O'Neil was tied to a stake and burnt, while his companions were slain.
In commemoration of the occasion an effigy of the pirate was set up annually in Colhugh meadows and burnt. At the same time a King and Queen were chosen, and the usual festivities were carried out. Mrs. Wrentmore, a local lady of wealth and lands, and Mrs. Jenny Deere, a native of the town, were among the last Queens of the revels until they ceased, about 1850-1855. The Independent Order of Oddfellows then celebrated " Llantwit's Annwyl Day" by church parade and a dinner, and this was continued until the year 1907, when, like many other relics of the past, it went into oblivion.
Monday, July 31, 2006
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Great news to see that the Victorian fair day has not been lost. I have been reading that there is some confusion on the real date for 'Annwl Day' and the day of the fair. So I have done some research.
The First Victorian Fair Day was held in 1981, as the town's contribution to the National Year of the Castle held throughout Wales. It attempts to recreate the impression of the village, as it was 100 years ago. From the first, the date selected for the event was the nearest Saturday to June 22nd. which is the traditional 'Annwl Day' an event exclusive to Llantwit Major and which commemorates the Middle Ages event when Colyn Dolphyn, a notorious Bristol Channel Pirate, was surprised by local men on Cwm Colhugh Beach, was overcome and dragged up to the town to meet death by summary justice. The celebration lapsed some time at the start of this century and this superb opportunity has been taken to resurrect one of the real traditions of the Vale.
The above extract was taken form an old website of the Victorian Fair.
Now this is were it gets confusing.
Annwl Day was in fact on May 3rd and Tradition states that an Irish pirate named O'Neil had for many years committed great havoc along the coast. Both sides of the Bristol Channel suffered at his hands,
The story goes that O'Neil was tied to a stake and burnt, while his companions were slain.
In commemoration of the occasion an effigy of the pirate was set up annually in Colhugh meadows and burnt.
But there also was a pirate called Colyn Dolphyn
In the 1440s Colyn Dolphin, a Frenchman, was based there. Edward Stradling of Coity Castle married a daughter of Henry VI's great uncle, Cardinal Beaufort, and became Chamberlain of South Wales in 1423. His son Harry was captured by the pirate Colyn Dolphyn a native of Brittany.
Operating out of Lundy Island, Dolphyn captured of Sir Harry Stradling in 1449 while sailing back to Wales from Minehead in Somerset, where he had stayed for a month. Sir Harry Stradling, his faithful man Dewryn, and the crew of the St. Barbe, were kept close prisoners by Colyn Dolphyn, on board his barque the Sea Swallow for about 2 years. Stradling was ransomed for a price of 2200 marks and forced to sell his manors of Bassaleg and Rogerstone and other estates to regain his freedom.
According to the old chroniclers, Colyn Dolphyn was a tall, athletic, and mighty man, "like Saul in Israel." He "towered head and shoulders" over the Welsh and English alike. Colyn Dolphyn's name was a terror in South Wales.
Some time later Dolphyn was caught in a storm and ran aground on Colhugh Beach and the Nash rocks in Glamorgan. Sir Harry Stradling and his men met them and captured Dolphyn and his men. They were hung the next day.
So it is easy now to see how the two pirates have been mixed up with Annwl Day being nearest Saturday to June 22nd, So now we can safely say that Annwl Day was on May 3rd. So were did June 22nd come from? Alas I have done some more research that will now revile that.
In a survey of Llantwit Major made in 1614 the Jurors gave the following evidence.
'Item, they present and saie there hath been in tymes past within this Lordship keapt two faires att certaine termes of the yeare (that is to witt) att St Barnabus Tyd and att St Barthole-mews Daie. And also two markett daies weeklie kept (yt is to wilt) one the Monday and Wednesday and that the Rive of this Lordship hath liberty uppon St Barnabus Daie to keep a glove court for the Good there.
From other documents around 12/13 century we know that there was a fair kept in Llantwit Major many centuries before this and that the peasants were bound to bring hurdles and booths for the purpose. This was the famous Lamb Fair held on June 22nd. The streets around the centre of the town were penned off on that day for sale of lambs, which were driven from all over the vale. Cattle were sold too, at the Pound Field or on the West side along the Ogney Brook where they could be watered. The purpose of the Glove was to regulate weights,measures and coinage - the glove being the symbol of authority carried by the reeve. Until this glove was raised on high no trading could take place the Glove court would hear cases of the people whom wanted to sue another person in the Markets (perhaps the meat you just Bought was off and you wanted justice)
In England the Court was generally known as a pie powder (dusty feet) Court. During the nineteenth century other attractions were added and it became a great annual occasion for all ages. Even the servants who worked for a few pounds a year and perhaps harshly treated were often allowed this one-day holiday. Children of course were deliriously excited in anticipation of the fair.
Am old Llantonian recalling his own boyhood said that children ran up the Cowbridge Road, placing their ears to the ground to catch the first rumblings of the traction engine. The proprietor then was Mrs Studt who travelled in a gaudy caravan and gave boys tea for running errands. On the day of the fair at the beginning of this century Fred Kelly began erecting the hurdles and the standings which ran from the church up to the White lion from first light, and the Jack Cummins, the one armed lamp lighter and Town Crier announced the Fair up and down the streets.
The serious part of trading went on throughout the morning then merchants put up stalls. Ushers from Cardiff selling fish, Tuckers of Cowbridge with a china stall, ginger snap sellers, flannel stalls, fortune tellers, patent medicine touts, peep shows, menageries, pony roundabouts, shooting gallery, gondola, swing boats, magic lantern and the first moving pictures. As the farmers concluded their business at the numerous pubs the young people gathered at the shows. The girls paraded in their Sunday best and the boys in suits and starched shirts with stiff collars. These became limp as they squired each other with tubes of water called 'ladies teasers' a marvellous opportunity for 'sparking' and showing off. The girls shrieking the boys coarsely bawling in mock bravado. With the last gasp of the traction engine, all went quiet, for another year.
So when we look at a fair day both dates are correct with June 22nd being the older Fair.
So it looks like its back to you guys as to which date you choose????
Kind Regards
Cllr Russell Downe, Mayor Of Llantwit Major.
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