Egremont is known beyond cumbria for its crab fair named for the apple rather than the crustacean, held the third saturday in september. Gurning festival egremont crab fair visit lake district. Egremont crab fair sports track saturday, 20 sep 2008. In the early days of the ladies gurning, 2nd and 3rd places. There are lots of shops, pubs, cafes, supermarkets, gyms and parks located within 10 minutes walk of this property. Believed to be the oldest fair of its kind in the world, egremont crab fair returns on friday 15 to saturday 16 september. The annual egremont crab fair takes place on saturday 21st september with a whole day of events including the world gurning. Egremont crabapple fair third saturday in september. Originally a harvest festival, the fair traditionally begins with the parade of the apple cart, a tradition dating back to the times when serfs would pay their dues at the manor with wild fruit. By melissa renay reminiscent of an oldcountry fair and traditional games, the annual egremont crab apple fair is a funfilled family. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. The crab fair originally began in 1267 and is one of the oldest fairs in the world.
Sep 24, 2014 the egremont crab fair is one of those quirky town festivals that bring people from all over the world to egremont. Egremont was granted its market charter by king henry iii. The monthly farmers market and shops sell locally produced and sourced foods such as unique cumberland sausages, dairy, bakery, vegetables, plants and local crafts. Sep 14, 2017 the annual egremont crab fair takes place on saturday 16th september with a whole day of events including the world gurning championships. The lord of egremont started a tradition of giving away crab apples, from where the fair gets its name. Apples are still thrown at noon from a lorry on main street, but they are ordinary eating apples instead of the less palatable crabs.
Some sights from the fairground at the 2015 egremont crab fair. Sep 17, 2017 the egremont crab fair, which is held in cumbria, is presently in its 750th year. Is this true and if it is, pleeeease dont tell me its a health and safety. Thanks to our many sponsors and supporters we are able to offer a variety show of quality entertainers. Egremont crab apple fair held every september in england by melissa renay reminiscent of an oldcountry fair and traditional games, the annual egremont crab apple fair is. Crab fair will be held on friday 18th and saturday 19th september 2020. The cumberland sausage show crew visited the egremont crab fair and pete had a go at gurning.
Theres the parade of the apple cart, where apples are thrown. Jun 28, 20 living gargoyles the medieval art of gurning or how ugliness illuminates beauty david clayton believe it or not, there is an annual facepulling competition that takes place in cumbria in northern england that can trace its history back in a continuous line to the th century. It is home to an annual crab fair originating in 1267, and as a town it has over years of history. Each year on the third saturday in september, egremont crab fair kicks off early in the morning and runs late into the evening, packing in a whole variety of events throughout the day. Egremonts crab fair is one of the uks most historic events and makes a welcome return for the 752nd time on friday the 20th saturday 21st. Little is known about the events of the egremont crab fair prior to the 19th century.
The fair gets its name from a tradition started by the lord of egremont. Thinking of booking a couple of nights for this years fair but have been told that the greasy pole and throwing of apples in the square isnt allowed anymore. The tiny contest grew over time into todays world gurning championships. Seen winning the 2000 event was popular egremont man, the late peter jackman. Dancing in the street started in 2004 and has grew over the years to become one of west cumbrias biggest free events. Egremont fair, in cumbria, consciously preserves many of the traditional games and pastimes of oldtime country fairs, such as gurning and egremont is said to hold the world championship competition, climbing the greasy pole, wrestling, tugofwar, and childrens races. Hen you read history books and see the inhumanity mankind can show to itself. Man wins gurning world championships in cumbria for second time.
Church of st mary and st michael is a grade ii listed building in egremont, cumbria, england. The tradition continues to this day with the parade of the apple cart. The town was anciently a borough, sending members to parliament, but was disfranchised, at its own request, in the time of edward i. The fair originally began in 1267 and is one of the oldest fairs in the world. It was a wonderful gathering of peters family, former colleagues and friends to remember his life. Farewell to a gurning world champ and great man, gordon. In the early days of the ladies gurning, 2nd and 3rd places were not recorded. Dancing in the street is a free family orientated event held on egremont main street.
See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building. Sep 10, 20 the annual egremont crab fair takes place on 21st september with a whole day of events including the world gurning championships. It is believed that the traditional fair has been held continuously since this time, except for unavoidable interruptions during the war years. But the earliest record of gurning competitions can be traced back to the egremont crab fair in egremont, in cumbria way back in 1267. The origins of the gurning competition itself are unclear, and it may not be so old, although it was described as an ancient tradition by local newspaper the cumberland paquet in 1852.
A crab fair and competitive gurning in cumbria contrary life. Man wins gurning world championships in cumbria for second. Heres to the next 750 years of egremont crab fair the. Egremonts crab fair is held on the third saturday in september annually. It combines ancient and traditional events with modern attractions in a unique way, attracting visitors from all over the world. Egremonts crab fair is held on the third saturday in september annually, and. He recorded a crab fair song which was played over loudspeakers at the 1949 fair. Egremonts crab fair is held on the third saturday in september annually, and features unusual events such as the worldfamous gurning and greasy pole climbing. Egremont crab fair the world gurning championships hpb. Mar, 2019 egremont crab fair, egremont, cumbria, uk. The first junior gurning contest took place in 1979, but information from then upto 1992 is not currently available. It is believed that the traditional fair has been held continuously since this time, except for unavoidable interruptions during the. The crab fair has many events, including wrestling, terrier racing, and ferret shows, but it is famed for hosting the world gurning championship gurning is the art of pulling hideously ugly faces. Egremont, historically a mining community and home to the famous crab fair and hartleys ice cream is a fairtrade town and a great place to shop.
History of the crab fair in medieval times centuries ago, after harvesting time which usually ended in september, serfs to the manor of egremont gathered wild fruits plentiful in south cumberland, and with their vegetables, corn and animals went to pay their dues to the lord of the manor. Egremont crab fair s gurning organiser, kevin brown, is devastated by the loss of a legend. The world gurning championship takes place annually at the egremont crab fair. Historically in cumberland, the town, which lies at the foot of uldale valley and. Most of the traditional crab fair events, including the gurning competition, were not held during the war years 193944 because it was impracticable to stage them. Lord of the barony of egremont, for a weekly market on wednesdays and an annual fair to be.
It consists of the annual throwing of the apples and also the world gurning championships. Egremont gurning at crab fayre world gurning competition. The crab fair was first held in 1267 and has only been interrupted by war. Living gargoyles the medieval art of gurning or how. In medieval times centuries ago, after harvesting time which usually ended in september, serfs to the manor of egremont gathered wild fruits plentiful in south cumberland, and with their vegetables, corn and animals went to pay their dues to the lord of the manor. The egremont crab fair has been going since 1267 and gurning itself has been a fixture of the event for centuries. Will you have a go at climbing the greasy pole or pulling the winning face in.
Sep 19, 2008 established in 1267, the egremont crab fair is one of britains longeststanding fairs, but its not one to let stand time still, having dispensed with the distribution of crab apples in favour of. This page is to allow people to book craft and trade pitches for the. Egremont crab fair and sports, craft stall and traders. Egremont crab fair and sports was established in 1267, which makes it one of the oldest fairs in the world. Ran by volunteers, egremont hosts the famous annual crab fair which has been going for a staggering 750 years, this makes it one of the oldest fairs in the world. Egremont, cumberland genealogy heraldry and history. Egremont is a fun vibrant town with lots of history.
Sep 16, 2016 the egremont crab fair in cumbria dates from 1267 and is held annually in september. A gurn or chuck, in british english, is an extremely distorted and particular facial expression. Church of st mary and st michael, egremont, cumbria. The fair dates back to 1267, when king henry iii granted it a royal charter. The egremont crab fair is one of west cumbrias busiest traditional events and with ever increasing visitor numbers the sports field is the place to be trade stalls have prime position on the sports field and we also have a well established c raft tent with undercover pitches including tables. Crab fest, taking place on saturday, september 16, at the egremont crab fair field, on baybarrow road, boasts to be. The remains of the norman castle, built in the 12th century, are situated at the southern end of main street near the market place. Jock branthwaite was reported in 1949 to be a bus conductor from bransty, whitehaven. Egremonts long established annual crab fair is always held on the 3rd saturday in september, it dates back to 1267 but many things have changed over the years but the parade of the apple cart and the world gurning championship still remains, likewise the clay pipe smoking and the singing of sentimental songs so for a day of fun. Egremont crab fair and sports, craft stall and traders booking page, egremont, dumfries and galloway, united kingdom. Aug 23, 20 the crabs at the crab fair in egremont, cumbria are actually crab apples, and were traditionally given to children by the lord of the manor. The fair gets its name from the giving away of crab apples, a tradition started by the lord of egremont. A tradition relating to incidents in the history of the castles proprietors at the time of the crusades is embodied in wordsworths t horn of egremont castle.
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