The May Statute Fairs

The market place was the venue in centuries past for the annual statute fairs, held on the first Saturday in May for the hiring of servants. Originally, it was not strictly a fair but was derived from the mediaeval Statutes of Labourers of which the first was enacted in the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) when there was a shortage of agricultural workers.

Men and employers came together to hear the rates of pay and conditions and usually entered into hiring agreements there and then. Where people customarily gathered in large numbers, sellers of food and drink quickly followed and after them, stallholders selling fairings of blue ribbon or gingerbread, and the providers of amusements. Farm workers and servants were normally engaged by the year and when that period drew to an end and the employer had made no move to renew the engagement, or the man or maid wished to go elsewhere, then they would go to the hiring fair to seek a new employer. Once the employment had been sealed, the newly hired worker invariably received a "fastenpenny" to seal the agreement and the rest of the day was spent on enjoying the delights of the fair. 

We are able to learn what the atmosphere was like at these annual Statute Fairs from reports in the Stamford Mercury during the 19th century and here is a sample that appeared on the dates stated:

The fair on Saturday last was more numerously attended than any we have before witnessed. The hiring at the early part of the day was very slack, owing to a determination of the employers not to give much wages. Ultimately, the servants were disposed to submit, and many bargains were affected, especially in the domestic market. The town was infected with thieves, who met (as far as has been revealed) a goodly harvest: we understand some incautious parties were relieved of a little cash. The police force was very active and we understand that 15 or upwards of known pickpockets were ejected from the town during the day. The stall people and other tradesmen had little cause to grumble. As usual, there was an abundance of merry-making until a late hour on Sunday morning. - Friday 17th May 1850.

It was a delightful day for the occasion and at an early hour, the influx of blue slops [loose jackets or tunics] trimmed with shining buttons, and the merry damsels hanging on the arms of their swains, soon gave the town a bustling appearance. Though not so numerous as at the previous May statute, the attendance of both masters and servants was good and a considerable amount of hiring was done at high wages. Several of the light-fingered tribe were in the Market Place but, being watched, they were not able to ply their avocation with great success. A man who gave the name of George Williams, of Spalding, was seen by Constable Evans with his hand in a young woman's pocket, for which he was taken into custody and kept in hold until Monday when he was discharged. Mrs Hodgkin, of Kirkby, had her pocket picked of 12s. or 14s. and a poor woman who was staying at Haconby was "eased" of three half-crowns, three shillings and a penny piece. - Friday 19th May 1854.

The fair was well attended by both employers and servants and a good deal of hiring took place. There was a greater number of pickpockets in the town on this occasion than has been known to be the case before. Now that the dog-cart system has been put down, it appears that 6 or 7 "gentry" join and procure a horse and cart in which they convey themselves and as many nut baskets, professing to make the sale of nuts their livelihood. It is said not less than 20 of this description of characters were in town on Saturday, though from a sharp look-out kept upon their movements by the Bourne constabulary, with the assistance of Police Constable Chadburn, of Spalding, and another officer, they were not able to thieve to so great an extent as might otherwise have been the case. The pugilistic encounters too often customary at statutes were not so numerous on this occasion. The moon did not shine, nor were the public gas lamps lighted. - Friday 18th May 1855.

The weather was fine and at one time, a considerable number of persons were congregated in the Market Place, but as far as we could learn there was not much hiring done, especially among females, of whom the general observation was that they were very young: most of the older and good servants, it seems, prefer obtaining situations by other means than exposing themselves in the  public Market Place to be gazed at and "taken stock of" by the inquisitive of both sexes. It is to be feared that this occasion was no exception to the general immorality and drunkenness which too often characterise the evenings of these gatherings. A woman who gave the name of Charlotte Green, from Nottingham,  was taken into custody in the afternoon on a charge of picking the pockets of Elizabeth Mitchelson of 2s. 2½d. She was seen to take her hand out of Mitchelson's pocket but the money was not found upon her. She was taken before a magistrate on Monday and discharged. Afterwards, she boasted that she had told the "old beak" that she did not get the money and that that satisfied him. - Friday 16th May 1856.

Bourne statute was very numerously attended on Saturday last, the day being remarkably fine. We are glad to notice a decided improvement in the manners and appearance of those who attend these gatherings, which now gradually assume the business of a fair or market. The greater part of the hirings appear to be reflected in another manner and by more private resources. Not a single case of disorderly conduct took place that required the interference of the police who were very alert all day. - 22nd May 1857.

The usual May Day statute was held at Bourne on Tuesday last and was numerously attended by young servants of both sexes. The hiring, however, was not on an extensive scale, many of the servants no doubt attending more on account of the holiday than for the purpose of obtaining situations. There was no lack of the normal concomitants on such occasions - stalls, shows, rifle tunnels, photographic booths, &c. Very good order generally prevailed, not a single case of any importance occurring to require the interference of the police. Though there may be some things to be deplored in connection with these gatherings, they are certainly much less objectionable than they were some dozen years ago when, to say the least of them, they were very uproarious and when in the evening as many as three or four fights might be witnessed going on within a short distance of each other. - Friday 17th May 1861.

A large number of servants of both sexes attended and a good deal of hiring was affected. The rate of wages in the morning was considered somewhat high, but in the afternoon gave way a little. A report that a servant girl had lost or had her pocket picked of £7 does not appear to have any foundation, as nothing of the kind, either of pocket-picking or loss, was reported to the police authorities. The only thing reported to the police in connection with the statute was the finding, over the cemetery wall, by the lodge keeper, a bundle containing some articles of female apparel fastened up in an apron, some of the things bearing the initials E.P. - Friday 20th May 1870.

There was a large attendance, principally of male agricultural servants, at this statute on the 14th inst. and a tolerable amount of hiring was done, wages ruling rather high. Though there was a large number of persons brought together, the day passed off orderly. - Friday 22nd May 1874.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, there was a large number of both servants and employers. Wages were not nearly so high as in previous years. There was a larger number of shows than usual, the principal being Sangers' waxwork and a living skeleton. - Friday 23rd May 1879.

There was a good attendance of masters, mistresses and servants, but the hiring effected was not large and wages were lower than last year. The [Temperance] Café company had taken the Corn Exchange for the day but it was appropriated for the purposes of hiring until three o'clock, when dancing commenced and continued until 11 o'clock. - Friday 19th May 1882.

The weather was beautifully fine but grew cold towards evening. Perhaps the number attending the fair was greater than in past years but there was less demand for agricultural servants and the average wage was lower than formerly. There were the usual attractions in the shape of shooting galleries, &c. Mrs Neal, of the Burghley Temperance Refreshment Rooms, had hired the Corn Exchange hall for the day. An efficient string band was in attendance and dancing was kept up with spirit during the evening. It is, we believe, now pretty generally admitted that this fair is more devoted to pleasure than to business. Such was evidently the case on Monday. The ancient mode of hiring is gradually falling into desuetude, through a variety of circumstances - increased education, greater facilities of communication, migration to towns and emigration to our young and vigorous colonies, political agitation, and a growing disinclination to any system of labour contract that limits individual independence. One feature of the modern hiring fair is especially pleasing, and that is the comparative absence of drunkenness. - Friday 18th May 1888.

The dances at the Corn Exchange became a regular feature and by the turn of the century, the May Statutes, as they were known, were more a social than a business occasion. In 1902, one such dance at the Corn Exchange attracted between 300 and 400 people who each paid one penny for admission and the dancing continued until well past 11 pm. It was obvious that the hiring tradition would not last and that servants were becoming more independent and beginning to realise the worth of their labour.

The annual May statutes were held at Bourne on Wednesday. There was a very fair attendance of servants and masters. So far as we could ascertain, very little hiring was done. The wages asked by the servants were in excess of previous years and whilst the masters were reluctant to pay more, the servants were quite as reluctant to accept places at the advanced prices. Boys were asking £9 to £12 a year, second men £13 to £16 and horsemen £16 to £23. The pleasure portion of the community were supplied with a larger number of attractions than usual. - Friday 16th May 1902.

The end was inevitable. Hiring at the statute fair was a tradition that lasted until the Great War (1914-18) but the occasion now survives purely as a pleasure fair.

Return to The Market Place

 

Go to:     Main Index