Tonbridge Fair

With the Tonbridge Taster event approaching I thought it would be interesting to revisit this amazing poster of the Tonbridge Fair. There's 200 years between the two events.

Courtesy of Tonbridge Historical Society

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Climbing a pole for a leg of mutton and eating rolls and treacle were all fun at the Tonbridge Fair in 1813.
Seems our Tonbridge ancestors were far more creative than we are.

Tonbridge Fair 1813

I love this creatively written poster for the Tonbridge Michaelmas Fair from 1813.  However, two lines  are illegible. The first is directly after 'For a New Straw Bonnett' and the second is below 'A race for a new gown piece'.  Maybe someone can work out the wording.

TONBRIDGE FAIR

_________________

on WEDNESDAY, the 17th October 1813

TONBRIDGE MICHAELMAS FAIR

Will take place, when there will be LOTS of FUN such as the following

For Ladies Young or Old

A RACE

For a New STRAW BONNETT

A RACE FOR A NEW GOWN PIECE

DRINKING HOT TEA

FOR A POUND OF THE BEST BOHEA

for

GENTLEMEN NOT PARTICULAR AS TO AGE

Climbing a Pole,

For a LEG OF MUTTON

SMOAKING FOR A POUND OF TOBACCO

GRINNING through Horse Collars

Eating Apples out of a Pail of Water

DONKEY RACING,

Three to Start, or no Race

EATING ROLLS AND TREACLE

With many other Sports to numerous to mention

_______________________________________

N.B. The above interesting Amusements will take place in front of  the ANGEL

commencing at ONE o'clock

_______________________________________

BRIDGER, PRINTER, STATIONER of TONBRIDGE