The return of the Bartholomew Fair

West Smithfield is one of my very favourite parts of London and I’ve written about it countless times despite it being an area little larger than a football field.

As the western worlds oldest hospital, St Bartholomew’s and its neighbouring and magnificent neighbour St Bartholomew The Great Church both prepare for their 900th birthday party towards the end of the year. It seems fitting that an even that is almost as old is returning for the first time in almost 170 years, the Bartholomew Fair.

A charter was first granted for the fair in 1133, which took place around Smithfield. Initially, the fair was primarily for the selling of cloth, which explains why there’s a street in Smithfield called Cloth Fair, and a nearby pub called The Hand & Shears.

Rather typically of London and indeed much of the UK over various times in history, the fair began to get out of control with it diversifying away just from the cloth trade. It became incredibly popular with lots of street entertainment and rather copious amounts of alcohol being consumed. I sometimes think who can blame these hard-drinking forebears given the often terrible lives they had.

By Victorian times, the partying had become too rowdy for the authorities’ liking, and following a particularly rowdy fair in 1855, it was banned forever. It had been declared that the fair was a “school of vice which has initiated more youth into the habits of villainy than Newgate itself.”

Forever that is, until 31st August 2023 when the Bartholomew Fair is back in what will be a 3 week family friendly (I guess the wife-swapping is off the programme of events… officially anyway!!)

The original fair drew acts and stalls originally in London, then across the U.K. and even from overseas. This fantastic revival sees a programme of UK and internationally renowned artists bringing a modern twist in a spectacular celebration of contemporary culture and the City of London’s unique heritage.

The epic recreation of Bartholomew Fair in the City of London will see over 30 free events, live performances, and unique spectacles in a contemporary reimagining of the capital’s greatest historic event.

The exciting full programme includes the world-premiere of RESURGAM, a stunning vertical dance performance on St Paul’s Cathedral; Dinner for All, a major immersive theatrical circus experience; and Carnesky’s Showwomxn Spectacular, a new promenade theatrical show directed by Olivier award winner Marisa Carnesky.

I’ve often thought that West Smithfield is perhaps the best part of London despite being almost entirely unvisited and that the fair should return so I for one am really glad it is. I may even get to enjoy it a little given that my Historic Pub Tour, Sherlock Tour, Crimes & Punishments Tour, 5 Hour London Walking Tour, London Medical History Tour, John Wesley Methodist Tour , Knights & Crusaders, Freemasons & Templars Tours and Nursery Rhyme Tour amongst others all pass through this ancient and currently empty part of London.