Yarm Fair

Over 800 years ago, King John awarded the Lord of Skelton, Peter de Brus, the right to hold a weekly market on Thursdays in Yarm. He also allowed Yarm to hold two annual, one-day fairs. The fairs were to be held on the Feast of the Ascension, and the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, who is the town’s patron saint.
In 1674, Charles ll issued a new charter, which granted permission for 4 annual fairs each year, as well as the weekly Thursday market. By 1867, the Thursday markets and 3 of the annual fairs had ceased to exist, leaving only the last fair, which is still held in October, and had been lengthened to last three days.

Originally, the October Fair was intended for the sale of horses and horned cattle on the first day, and sheep and cheese on the second day. When the third day was added, horses were from then on only sold on the first day, cattle on the second, with sheep and cheese being sold on the third day. The local cheese sold at the fair was of very good quality, and was so popular that about 500 tons of cheese were brought to the fair. However, by 1880, the sale of the cheeses and other merchandise began to decline, and by the beginning of World War 2, with the introduction of rationing, cheeses ceased to be sold altogether.

Yarm Fair was also once famous for the sale of Cleveland Bay horses, and they were in great demand as they could be used as pack horses or coach horses, and also carriage horses. Sales of horses and sheep mostly ceased in the 1970’s.

In the early days of the fair, visitors were entertained by strolling musicians, travelling acrobats and jugglers, showmen with dancing bears and performing dogs, and fortune tellers. However, in the last 100 years, these acts have gradually been replaced with modern amusements and mechanical fairground rides. Nowadays, the travellers begin to arrive on a Tuesday in October to set up with the official opening on Thursday, with the main fair day being the Saturday. The Blessing of the Fair takes place on Saturday morning at 10.45 am, next to the Dodgems, with the Riding of the Fair at 11 am when a large eighteenth century horn is blown and horses are still paraded up and down the High Street.