Epsom Wool Fairs

Detail from Sheep Shearing c.1675
By Adam Colonia

I had never heard of a Wool Fair being held in Epsom until I recently stumbled upon the following item in the Sheffield Independent of 22 June 1866 :

EPSOM, WEDNESDAY.— The annual Wool Fair, held in connection with and under the auspices of the Surrey Agricultural Association, took place to-day, in the grounds of the King’s Head Hotel. This fair is one of the earliest and most important that is held in the south, and it is regarded with considerable interest by the surrounding locality, inasmuch as the prices realised here to some extent rule the markets at subsequent fairs. There was a comparatively small attendance both of buyers and sellers, and the Wool exhibited was deficient in quantity as compared with former years. The small attendance was attributed mainly to the fine day, and the unwillingness which farmers naturally feel to leave their homesteads in favourable weather at this busy season ; whilst the deficient quantity of Wool exhibiting was owing to an idea that in the present unsettled state of politics both at home and abroad, the attendance of purchasers would be insufficient to enable good sales to be realised. The principal sellers were the Hon. Mrs. Howard, of Ashtead park who exhibited the fleeces of 140 wethers and 50 tegs; Mr. J. Page, of Coombe Farm, Kingston, who showed samples of the clips from 220 half-bred tegs, 200 half bred wethers and ewes, 213 horn Dorset ewes and wethers, and 100 lambs: Mr. J. Bennett, Cobham who offered the fleeces of 220 Down tegs and 30 ewes ; Mr. Greig, of Leatherhead, who showed 100 long Wool fleeces, and those of 160 Down wethers: Mr Cooke, of Ewell, who exhibited the produce of 170 mixed breed Downs and Leicesters ; Mr. Overton, of Sutton, who had the fleeces of 150 Downs and 100 half-breds; Dr. W. Hatch, of Ham, with the wool of 228 Down tegs; Mr. G. Freeland, of Cobham court, Mr. J. Harriott, of Ashstead, and others. Very little business was done until after dinner (which took place at the King’s Head, under the presidency of Mr. J. Page), the buyers exhibiting extreme reticence in their offers, and the sellers being for a time unwilling to name a price. At length, 1s. 4d. per lb. began to be offered, and 1s. 8d. to be asked, and eventually the greater portion was disposed of at an average of about 1s. 6d. per lb.

The only local reference that I have come across to the Epsom Wool Fair is in Ancient Epsom: The Common Fields and Ancient Roads By Reginald White · 1928 who says :

MARKETS AND FAIRS AT EPSOM.

The trade was of sufficient importance to Epsom for the establishment of a Wool Fair. This annual fair lasted until after the middle of the last century into the 1870’s and a number of people now must ‘have it in recollection. The fair was held on the last Wednesday in June, and I remember to have read an account of one of the last fairs which was held at one of the inns and was attended by the stewards of the manors in the vicinity and by factors and buyers from London.

A public dinner preceded the business, after which the various clips from Woodcote, Ashtead, Headley and Nonsuch Parks, and from Nork, Banstead, and other estates were bought and sold in public. The price then averaged about 1/- per lb.

The Wikipedia entry for Epsom says

“In the 15th century, sheep farming became increasingly important and a wool fair was held in June each year until the 1870s. There was also an annual pleasure fair which took place in July. The right to hold a market at Epsom was granted to Elizabeth Evelyn by Charles II and the charter was renewed by James II in 1685.”

A trawl through old newspapers came up with a few more refences to the Epsom Wool Fair such as:

Jackson’s Oxford Journal 13 July 1839.

Manchester Times 3 July 1850Newcastle Courant 4 July 1856

A account of another Wool Fair was in The Graphic of 28 September 1872.

NORTHAMPTON WOOL FAIR

Click image to enlarge

Of all fairs, a wool fair perhaps excites the least general interest. It is nevertheless an amusing scene. The spectators consist of beggars, cripples, superannuated farm labourers and idlers of the town, who as business gets brisk find themselves jostled, snubbed, and ignominiously ignored. After awhile they collect around the Market Cross—the centre of the scene of operations—and there fall asleep upon the bales of wool. All the wool which is brought to market unpacked is secured in bales on its arrival. Large bags are suspended between two posts, and the loose wool is pitchforked, dammed and trampled until the bags are, filled almost to bursting.

The mouths of the bags are drawn forcibly together by the aid of an ingenious lever armed with a claw, and secured by dexterously inserted iron pins.

Then the bales are taken to another part of the ground to be weighed and stacked.

The waggons containing the ready-packed wool are backed close to the weighing machine the unwieldy bales are tumbled down, and dragged into the scales by men armed with iron hooks. After being weighed and registered the wool is trundled away to its place in the fair.

Then comes the tug of war. Buyers and sellers walk about the square examining and criticising the wool, some of the bales being opened for the purpose. Then they stand about in twos and threes chaffering and striking bargains. Finally crisp bank notes and shining gold are transferred from the pockets of the wool merchants to capacious wash-leather pouches which serve as purses to the red faced, jolly looking farmers. Then the business of the day is over, and the wool which is disposed of is removed in waggons to the railway station.

Peter Reed 2022