The Middleton Accounts of 1526: #67
The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in November 1526 was described as the costs of John Lewissay and John Howard to go to Lenton Fair with 4 horses and staying there one se’n-night (week). The amount was 3 shillings 4 pence, which was the equivalent of about £73.55 today. Lewissay and Howard were both servants of Sir Henry.
Lenton Fair was established by a royal charter in 12th century during the reign of King Henry II. It was held at Lenton Priory near Nottingham. Traditionally, it took place from Martinmas (11th November) and lasted for eight days. This agrees with the accounts entry and means that Lewissay and Howard were there for the duration of the Fair.
Lenton Fair was massive. This was in part because a charter, which had been made between the Priory and the burgesses of Nottingham, stated that no other market or fair was permitted to trade within the district of Nottingham whilst Lenton Fair was taking place. Furthermore, the timing of the Fair meant that it was used as a vital winter-preparation event at which not only locals or regional gentry attended but also high-status merchants from around the country. This also made it a substantial social event for the aristocratic calendar.
The Fair traded in various items such as livestock, textiles, leatherwork, metalwork and imported goods. Traders paid to hire a shop, stall or booth and were assigned places according to their trade and social standing. All were temporary structures. Stallage varied by the type of booth and could be uncovered or covered with material, the material being paid for and chosen by the merchant. Booths were generally 8 x 8 feet (2.4m). In 1513, it was described that there were: a row of goldsmiths, which had four bays, 10 feet in length (3m); a row of saddlers, which had five bays; a row of mercers, which was considered the most important section and the first shop alone had a length of 35 feet (10.6m) and a depth of 18 (5.4m); two rows of drapers, one of 14 bays and another of 13; three cook-shops; a row of skinners; and a fisher’s row.
Wollaton was the adjacent manor to Lenton and many members of the Willoughby family were stewards of Lenton. This included Sir Henry Willoughby. The steward of Lenton was steward not only of the manor but also the Fair. It is known to have been a highly coveted office amongst the Nottinghamshire gentry because it allowed the holder to participate directly in the management of the wealthy monastery’s affairs.
Hence, Sir Henry, as holder of the office, would have been directly involved in the organisation of the Fair, specifically in relation to the collection of tolls, the letting of the Fair booths and settling any disputes occurring during the Fair. He would have wielded justice through what was known as the Court of Piepowder. This was a rapid legal institution designed specifically to provide immediate justice for travelling merchants and fairgoers. The court would hear a case, pass judgment and execute sentence within a single afternoon in order that all disputes would be resolved before anyone could leave. As a result, Sir Henry would have had to attend the entire duration of the Fair in person.
Lenton Fair was one of the main Fairs that the Willoughby family sought bulk provisions from and they attended it from Wollaton. As a result, the Willoughby family was based at Wollaton rather than Middleton when this Fair occurred. Moreover, later documents indicate that the boats used by the Willoughby family to ship coal to London, along the Trent and then down the east coast of England, were timed so that they would return to Nottingham re-freighted with commodities from London specifically for Lenton Fair.
Further Reading:
W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p.386.
Herbert Green, "Lenton Priory", Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 40, 1936,
Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.
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