Yarm Fair 20th October 2011

Historic Background of Yarm Fair

The original charter for the fair was granted by King John in the early 13th Century. Yarm Fair was a major three day event attracting farmers and traders from as far afield as Ireland, it was also the biggest fair in the North East for cheese. In the early 1900’s over 500 tons of cheese would arrive in Yarm carried in over 400 horse drawn carts.

In those days it was not uncommon either for 5,000 head of Irish Cattle to change hands at the Fair, despite them being banned from the High Street until the third day of the meeting. Hundreds of horses were put through their paces up and down the High Street for prospective buyers.

The Modern Fair

Today it is now primarily a funfair. Travellers still attend the fair and ride horses up and down the street on the Saturday. The travellers have to wait outside the town until 6:00 pm on the Tuesday, at which point they are allowed to cross the bridge over the River Tees into the town.

On the Saturday morning the historic blessing of the fair takes place in the vicinity of the dodgems.

Dignitaries are taken by a steam engine the length of the high street where the charter and proclamation is performed.
Following this the ‘flashings’ takes place when travellers ride horses up and down the High Street to show off their wares.
Click to listen to the Proclomation

The fair is operational on the Thursday, Friday evenings between 6 pm and 11pm and Saturday evening 6.pm till midnight as well as Saturday afternoon from 11.30 am.

A free park and ride service will run approximately every 15-20 minutes from the Oakwood Centre (Durham Lane, Eaglescliffe) during all times that the Yarm fair rides open. This will start at 6pm and the last bus will leave Yarm at approximately 11.50pm.
A copy of the timetable can be found by clicking here...

In the main the same people return to the same positions every year, and are all Members of the Guild who must abide by all the Guilds rules and regulations.

The Yarm Fair is an annual three day event taking place from Thursday 20th October until Saturday 22nd October 2011.

During the Fair Yarm High Street will be open for business as usual,
but the High Street is closed during the fairground operational times.