AN HISTORIC tradition was continued in Greenfield as villagers gathered for the annual Maundy Thursday Road End Fair.
The right to hold the fair, which can be traced back to the Magna Carta of 1215, would be forfeited if at least one stall is not set up each year.
This time, a delightful array of household items and decorations, pictures, teddies, cakes, sweets, plants and more was on sale on the various stalls set up by locals.
There was a bright Easter raffle hosted by St Mary’s Church, Greenfield, with prizes including a giant fluffy purple bunny, chocolates and Bucks Fizz.
And entertainment was provided by the old-fashioned fairground organ stall and toys, with proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation.
Joan Jones, who helped run stalls for St Mary’s Church, Greenfield, said: “It’s a great tradition and we’ve got to make sure it continues. I’ve been helping out for about 30 years now. At least we’ve had good weather today!”
For more pictures, visit Greenfield Gone By.
My hiw times gave changed since my childhood in Greenfield, I remember uncle Frank saving the fair in the sixties by taking a box of apples and orangesto sell outside the pub, he owned Ashworths fruit shop opposite the newspaper shop, Sykes supermarket was on the corner and a butchers on the opposite corner, the fair was decreed in the magna carte that if no stall owner showed up it could no longer be held, my uncle Fred used to be the smithy at the bottom of Station Brow and Grandma used to iwn the Wharf cottages back then.
Hi Jo
it wasn’t Frank Ashworth who saved the fair, it was his son, my father, Eric who did so. He took a bucket of daffodils from the shop when no-one had turned up with stalls.
Very best wishes
Eve Scott (nee Ashworth)
Hi Eve,
I’m your second cousin Josephine, we lived on Manchester Road until moving to Australia.
I used to come and play with you when you was very little.
I was always told Uncle Frank took a box of apples and a box of apples to road end and sat their selling them…..I used to go to the smithy to watch Uncle Fred shoe the shire horses and others of course.
I hope all is well with whoever is left…….
Warm wishes
Jo