Fairs were an essential part of medieval life- people would trade in everyday goods such as bread and ale which were strictly controlled commodities .
They would also trade in spices and luxuries from around the known world.
One of the largest fairs in medieval Sherwood Forest was held annually at Lenton Priory- the largest and wealthiest religious house in Nottinghamshire.
The oldest surviving fair is Goose Fair.
The first reference to what would become goose fair comes from a charter of 1284- permiting an 8 day fair in the town of Nottingham around the feast of St Matthew.
The first reference to what would become goose fair comes from a charter of 1284- permiting an 8 day fair in the town of Nottingham around the feast of St Matthew.
Goose fair is still held annually in Nottingham- and is now the largest travelling fair ground in Europe
(more to come on fairs, markets and trading in Sherwood Forest , and about the Priory of Lenton and the religious houses of Sherwood Forest soon)
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