Grantham’s Mid-Lent Fair cancelled – for now!

• 

Grantham’s Mid-Lent Fair has become the latest casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following a meeting between the Notts & Derby Section of the Showman’s Guild and South Kesteven District Council, regarding Stamford and Grantham Mid Lent Fairs, the decision has been made to cancel these fairs for this year due to COVID-19.

The Fair was due to run from Sunday 21^st to Wednesday 24^th March.

But all is not lost.

A spokesman said:”The Notts & Derby Section have asked if the fairs could be run at a later date if the situation alters, and they will be having another meeting at the end of March to discuss the matter further.”

SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, said: “SKDC and the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, which organises the events, have jointly taken the decision to cancel both this year’s Mid-Lent fairs as, under the current circumstances, the safety of all our residents must come first.”

Fairs have been held in Grantham for hundreds of years.

 Richard III’s charter of 1484 granted town fairs on the feast of St Nicholas, the Bishop in winter and the other on Passion Sunday  –  the forerunner of today’s Mid-Lent fair.

 The fairs of yesteryear were much different to fairs of today.  They provided a chance for everybody to dress in their best clothes and let their hair down.

 Many were linked to agriculture. By 1842, there were six annual fairs for horses, cattle and sheep in Grantham.

Pleasure fairs, with roundabouts driven by steam engines, became popular towards the end of the 19th Century and early 20th Century.

 The Fairs Act 1873 gave Grantham permission to continue with its Mid-Lent fair in Westgate & Market Place.

After the Second World War there was a great upsurge of interest in the fair. .All sorts of rides,  including a Big Wheel that stood between Dysart Road and Wharf Road, took up the whole of the Market place and Westgate and spread up side streets.

•