More this annual event has been held since 12th century and today market traders come from all over the country to sell their wares and provide entertainment in the town centre. It has been held on the second wednesday of october since 1823 and it is one of only two historically established traditional. Straddling the fast flowing river tavy, below the western edge of dartmoor, tavistock stands in the heart of an area of tremendous natural beauty. Goosey fair has been held in tavistock since the th century watch our archive footage of the fair from 1973. Today tavistock is a thriving community with an annual balloon festival and goose fair, and is a popular tourist destination. By then the locality was exporting large quantities of tin to europe. It has been held on the second wednesday of october since 1823 and it is one of only two historically established traditional fairs in the uk to carry the name, the other goose fair being held in.
History of goose fair goose fair has been a part of the nottingham calendar for over 700 years. May 15, 2010 tavistock memories by trevor james, 9781848687400, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Attractions in the local area dartmoor national park. Goose fair goes back so far that no one knows for sure exactly how it got its name. Along the x axis is time, and on the y axis is the count of editions published. September 11, 2020 weekend after labour day main menu skip to content. To tavistock goosey fair was a documentary by westward television in 1977, directed by clive gunnell and which won an award for the best regional documentary television programme. As of the 2001 census it had a population of 11,018. Tavistock goose fair is an annual event that takes place on.
The nottingham goose fair is an annual travelling funfair held at the forest recreation ground in nottingham, england, during the first week of october. It is reproduced here with the kind permission of norma woodcock. The town stands on the river tavy, from which its name derives, and runs with rocks and rapids from northeast to southwest through the town. In this book, journalist and fairground historian, guy belshaw, reveals some of the secrets of the fair s past. Tavistock memories by trevor james, 9781848687400, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Goosey fair veterans remember the glory days of the fair in this regional television documentary. Todays tavistock stands as the town was rebuilt in the first half of the nineteenth century by francis russell, 7th duke of bedford, from the profits of the nearby devon great consols mines. Each year, tourists visiting the annual attraction face a parking nightmare, sparking organisers to ask. Tavistock books does not maintain set hours, however, if in town, we can generally found in residence, tuesday through saturday, with core hours of 10 am till 3. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards north, south and south west had a population of,028. Ls elevated shot of the fair, showing tent and marquee tops. Tavistock abbey, tavistock 1020401 historic england.
Goose fair goes back so far that no one knows for sure exactly how it. Tavistock goose fair cattle market open day, tavistock, devon. This graph charts editions from this publisher over time. It is a surprise to many that more geese are offered for sale on goose fair day in the 2ist century than during most of the 20 th. A brief history of the fair from an old nottingham city council nottingham goose fair leaflet, written around 1988 by carl piggins of the public relations office. Tavistock goosey fair tis just a month come friday next, bill champerdown and me well us traipsed across old darty moor, the goosey fair to see and us made ourselves quite fiddy, us greased and oiled us hair. Tavistock livestock centre opens its gates to the public with local stalls selling local produce and. Tavistock is a market town within west devon, england on the river tavy, from which its name derives, and has a population of 11,018. Oct 14, 2009 goosey fair has been held in tavistock since the th century watch our archive footage of the fair from 1973. The abbey prospered, and in 1116 henry i gave a charter as a market town, followed in 1281 by tavistock becoming a stannary town entitled to weigh and stamp tin in the monarchs cause.
Largely provided by travelling showmen, it is one of three established fairs in the united kingdom to carry the name, the others being the smaller goosey fair in tavistock, devon, and the even smaller michaelmas goose fayre in colyford, east. The abbey the earl of orgar established the original monastery in 981 in the names of st mary and st rumon, 100 years before the. Farmers brought their geese for sale, and drove them through the streets to the market. Bingham and around through time by trevor james 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Gerry has left us with a wonderful legacy of historic research, publications and much more, including 27 important volumes of his popular series tavistock s yesterdays which the society is in the process of indexing as a. In 1295 tavistock gained recognition as a borough, and sent two members of parliament to london. Tavistock, devon academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Publishing history this is a chart to show the when this publisher published books. Tavistock is a stannary town in western devon, nestled in a dartmoor valley. The muchloved goose fair returns tomorrow and will dominate tavistock for the entire day. One of the longestrunning fairs in history has its home right here in nottingham. John trythall tavistock goose fair, known locally as goosey, or goosie, fair, is the annual fair in the stannary town of tavistock on the western edge of dartmoor. Tavistock livestock centre opens its gates to the public. Austin, nottinghams clerk of the markets from 1907 to 1944.
At the 2011 census the three electoral wards north, south and south west had a population of 12,280. Sep 04, 2008 history of goose fair goose fair has been a part of the nottingham calendar for over 700 years. Dartmoor was designated one of the 12 national parks of england and wales in 1951. Tavistock goose fair, known locally as goosey, or goosie, fair, is the annual fair in the stannary town of tavistock on the western edge of dartmoor. It seems to we, all devon must be to tavistock goosey fair. Oct 11, 2018 the muchloved goose fair returned on wednesday and dominated tavistock for an entire day the historic goose fair, that dates back to the 12 century, sees market traders descend on the town from. His education was basic but sound at a time when punishments for misbehaviour were swift and certain. Tavistock gateway to cornwall and west devon mining world heritage site. Tavistock memories ebook by trevor james rakuten kobo. Every second wednesday in october tavistock plays host to an annual fair dating back to the 12th century. Tavistock is taken over by the festival, stalls, a fairground with rides and amusements even cafes and local businesses trade later and have themed menus. The origins of goose fair mumblingnerds mumbling blog. In this book, journalist and fairground historian, guy belshaw, reveals some of the secrets of the fairs past.
Those people included local author and historian the late gerry woodcock who was head of history at tavistock college. Visits outside these core hours may be arranged by appointment. So theres a fair bit of history surrounding this annual festival. But here on the good ship tavistock, by survivor, we refer to those pieces of bibliophilic flotsam that weve found swirling in backwater eddies of a forgotten used bookstore, or on the figurative beach of a flea market table. Tavistock institute, social engineering the masses, is a chilling account of how a complex nexus of institutions spread and implement an agenda of social destruction through drug abuse, new age mysticism and the occult, a brain washing mass media and a perverted cybernetics programme. It was founded in ad 974, probably at the instigation of the saxon king edgar 95975, by ordulf, earl of devon, who granted the manor of tavistock to the benedictine order.
Oct 09, 2018 the muchloved goose fair returns tomorrow and will dominate tavistock for the entire day. It has been held on the second wednesday of october since 1823 and it is one of only three historically established traditional fairs in the uk to carry the name, the other being the larger nottingham goose fair, and the smaller michaelmas goose. The tavistock goosey fair every second wednesday in october tavistock plays host to an annual fair dating back to the 12th century. Sep 05, 2002 one of the longestrunning fairs in history has its home right here in nottingham. Tavistock goose fair is one of the best known events in devon and one with a rich and colourful history. It is one of the west countrys best known fairs, and it has its origins in the michelmas fair of the 12th century. It is a beautiful moorland landscape with wooded valleys and wind swept tors. Not only have we recently had in stock the cookbook with the 1 st english language recipe for tacos, but also the cooks oracle, the first cookery book published out of stockton, california a more exciting purchase than you might think, which generated enthusiasm from around the country. Tavistock goose fair cattle market open day home facebook. Tavistock goosey fair is a good funny song with a great chorus you need loads of good harmonies. It is a classic west country market town, with a population of approximately 12,280 as of 2011. A description of goose fair in the old market square in 1896, taken from the memoirs of mr g.
Tavistock books recent acquisitions contain a large focus on cookery titles. Trevor james recounts his experiences as a boy in a quiet market town in devon. Sep 22, 2015 tavistock institute, social engineering the masses, is a chilling account of how a complex nexus of institutions spread and implement an agenda of social destruction through drug abuse, new age mysticism and the occult, a brain washing mass media and a perverted cybernetics programme. Gerry has left us with a wonderful legacy of historic research, publications and much more, including 27 important volumes of his popular series tavistocks yesterdays which the society is in the process of indexing as a. He also relates the background to the rowland family, whose amusements have been prominent at tavistock for over a century. It is situated on the river tavy from which its name derives. It was founded in saxon times, destroyed by raiders from denmark, settled by benedictine monks around the year ad 961 ordgar the earl of devon laid the foundations of a benedictine abbey where the centre of the town now sits and ruled by the russells and the dukes of bedford until 1911. More this annual event has been held since 12th century and today market traders come from all over the country to sell their wares. There where 2 geese on show, a man was selling olives. Adoption of the gregorian calendar by britain in 1752 necessitated a correction to the established dates of charter fairs, in this case moving tavistock s fair from michelmas day 29 september to october 10. Tavistock is a market town within west devon, england. The goose fair has been a prominent fixture in the local calendar for as far back as 1160, with only an outbreak of leprosy in 46, the bubonic plague of 1646, and the great wars of the 20 th century bringing it to a temporary close. It is a charming, thriving market town, considered the capital of dartmoor. Tavistock memories by trevor james, paperback barnes.
This is the official page for tavistock goose fair. Tavistock abbey has a well known and recorded history. The muchloved goose fair returned on wednesday and dominated tavistock for an entire day the historic goose fair, that dates back to the 12 century, sees market traders descend on the town from. The best point at which to begin the search for the origins of tavistock goose fair is 1552. Indeed goose fair goes back so far that no one knows for sure exactly how it got its name. Tavistock goose fair wednesday 14th october 2020 tavistocks annual goose fair or goosey fair as its known locally is a local institution. This piece was written by the late gerry woodcock and published in volume 8 of tavistock s yesterdays. The abbey the earl of orgar established the original monastery in 981 in the names of st mary and st rumon, 100 years before the founding of westminster abbey in london. Tavistock goose fair is one of the best known fairs in the west country and has its ancient origins in the michelmas fair that first came into being in the early 12th century. A word that these days usually calls to mind the myriad of television series built on the theme.
Ls ground shot of the jostling crowd among the tents and side. The fair began as a michelmas trading fair, with the seasonal commodity, geese, being offered as part of the rent. The annual goose fair in tavistock dates back to the early 12th century, when a michaelmas fair held every september 29th provided the opportunity for business and animal trading, and was a social event for wives and daughters. Tavistock goose fair dingles fairground heritage centre. In that year the earl of bedford, who had been granted the. Tavistock is an ancient stannary and market town within west devon, england. Tavistock goose fair is an annual event that takes place on the 2nd wednesday in october, with over. Aug 28, 2001 the tower was converted into a summerhouse or gazebo in the late 19th century and some of its features are of this date.