Bampton Charter Fair

The 750th Anniversary of the Royal Charter

This video production celebrates the anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter to Bampton Fair in 1258. It describes the Charter being granted by King Henry III, suggests some history of how fairs progressed through the ages, and shows how the fair was originally centred on a cattle and livestock market - until it reached the point when 14,000 sheep were sold in a single day!
From the nineteenth century, as the sheep sales dwindled, Bampton became famous across the whole country for its annual Pony Fair, with its unique association with the Exmoor Ponies, and later with horses of every description being sold.
The loss of the railway in 1963 had a big impact on the Fair, as did the end of the pony sales in 1986 after conditions became too crowded and unsafe for the welfare of the animals.
In the new millennium, the Fair has regained some of its former atmosphere - a procession starts off the day, there are street entertainments and a Mummers’ Play, Exmoor Ponies and other live-stock are exhibited; a small pony, fur and feathers, and agricultural items auction takes place, the fun fair keeps the youngsters happy, and a wide selection of live music provides an entertaining background. Local produce and local crafts have their popular stalls.

Included in this story are many old photographs and unique film footage both from freelance cameramen and from early television, thanks to the South West Film and TV Archive and others. Much of the material has not been exhibited before.

The DVD produced by Station House Enterprises goes on sale from 30th October 2008 priced £7.50 (+ £1 p+p if required)