The 'Statchets' ( Statutes ) held in Burton Upon Trent town centre can be traced back to the granting of the right to hold a three day fair, to a charter granted by King John in 1200. This charter was granted to Abbot William Melbourne and was originally held during the feast of St. Modwen ( observed by the parish church on October 29th ), he also granted permission to the town to hold a market weekly on a Thursday.
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| A Sculpture Depicting The Signing And The Handing Over Of The Town Charter Above The Entrance To The Market Hall. |
The Statutes was a Horse Fair and like other fairs it was the time of the year for the hiring of farm labourers and servants, until the Labour Exchange was established. The men and women who were looking for work would wear red, white and blue ribbons in their hats or bonnets while walking around the fair. In A History of Burton On Trent by Denis Stuart a comment by a Mr G. Ulyett reads; 'I was hired at the Statutes Fair in 1919. It was done at the White Hart. The farmer slapped me on the hand, gave me a shilling ( 5 New Pence ) and I was hired for a year. I got £25 for the year. The farmer wanted me to cart away the night soil for which he had a contract with the Corporation. But I wouldn't do that work, I was hired as a cowman. The White Hart and other public houses in New Street were where the workers would be told to meet their new employers to talk terms. The fair is held always on the first Monday in October the week beginning after Michaelmas Day.
During my research into the history of the fair I was not able to find out why it was called the Statchets but I assume that it was because the people gave it this name, because of the Charter granted by King John. As this was an act of law, which was passed and intended as permanent, it was made Statute so they the people of the town referred to it as the Statchets. It was the custom in old times to let the children have a free ride before the fair opened but this died out a long time ago, however it is still customary to allow children the Monday afternoon off from school, to go to the fair. The fair has changed a great deal over the years, gone are all the little side shows that were the main feature of the old fairs like The Bearded Lady or the Dancing Bear the Fortune Tellers, Fire Eaters, Magic Shows, Tumblers, The Sword Swallower and many other weird and bazaar sights and acts of the old fairs. To days modern fair is all about fast rides the Big Wheel, Helter Skelter and many other attractions but there are still some of the old stalls there like Hoop-la where you are required to throw a small hoop over a prize to win it and others like the Coconut Shy where you had to knock a Coconut of it's peg with a wooden ball to win it. The fair for the last 100 years or more has been run by Pat Collins Fun Fairs and the modern fair is the successor to the three day fair now held over just two days.
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| he Mayor Opens The Fair. |
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| One Of The Large Lorrys Used |
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| The Traditional Fortune Teller. |
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| One Of The Faster More Modern Rides. |
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| The Helter Skelter. |
I remember as a child going into the town centre on a Sunday night to see the arrival of the caravans and the rides and stalls and to watch with amazement as all the rides and stalls were quickly put up. The fair was not allowed in to the town centre until after 8pm on the Sunday night, as they had to wait until the Church services were over. All the rides and stalls and the caravans of the fair had to wait on the outskirts of the town and from early afternoon on the Sunday you would find them queueing up on Derby Road, Branston Road, Ashby Road and Tutbury Road as they waited for the clock to chime eight, then they would all start to move into the town to get the best pitches. On Monday at 12pm the Town Mayor would make his speech and declare the Fair officially open and all the lights and rides would start.
