A Walk Through The Fair 2013

The 761st Charter Fair in Ilkeston town centre on Saturday 19th October 2013.
It was on April 10th 1252 that King Henry III granted a charter to Hugh de Muskham that granted the lord of the manor and the population of Ilkeston the right to hold a weekly market and an annual two day fair in August on the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary. 2013 therefore marks the 761st anniversary of the granting of the charter.
With the passage of time the agricultural calendar resulted in the Statutes or Hiring Fair being held in October when agricultural labourers would gather seeking employment for the winter from the local farmers land owners.
It was in 1888 that the August Charter Fair and the October Statutes Fair were combined to create the Annual Charter Fair beginning on the "first Thursday after the first Sunday after October 11th".
The Fair now opens on Wednesday evening although the official opening still takes place on Thursday at noon. All the images in this video were captured on Saturday around midday.