Levent Kerimol, GLA project lead, on this weekend’s return of the famous Fairlop Fair after a 112 year hiatus…

Levent Kerimol, GLA project lead, on this weekend’s return of the famous Fairlop Fair after a 112 year hiatus…

Fairlop Fair was a raucous event that took place every July from 1750 to 1900 and at its height was visited by 200,000 Londoners. 

The tradition started in the 1720s, when popular local figure Daniel Day travelled from Wapping to Fairlop to collect his rents and enjoy a feast with friends under the large ‘Fairlop Oak’. Over time, this occasion evolved into a fair with travelling theatres, fortune tellers, boxing, freak shows, fire eaters and scores of drinking booths. By 1851 it has become too popular for its own good and moves were made to limit the goings on. Although it continued for some 50 years the fair was never the same.

The GLA is helping fund the revived Fairlop Fair, as part of a project to support Barkingside High Street. A ‘storyboat’ on wheels left Wapping on 2 July stopping at various places along the way. It will arrive at Fairlop Waters Country Park at 4pm on Friday 6 July to a fanfare and an evening of music, fire and food by the lake.

The fair gets into full swing on Saturday, with swing boats and rides, old English games, folk music, rowing boats, wrestling, gingerbread men and peppermint rock, traditional medicine making and old recipes. Plus street entertainers, circus acts, fortune tellers, fire-eaters and fools.  You can also join a tug of war, a ‘Top of the Pups’ competition for dogs and even a freaky talent show.

While you’re there, don’t forget to visit Mira Calix’s beautiful musical stone sculpture, ‘Nothing Is Set In Stone’, just to the south of the lake, one of many Secrets we’ll be revealing in London this summer…