In 1199 King John granted the lepers the right to hold a three-day fair on the Vigil of Holy Cross. Rent from the stalls and booths added to the leper's income, which was otherwise derived from begging on the roadside, and from crops which they grew. Stourbridge Fair became the largest medieval fair in Europe and existed until 1933. It attracted merchants and visitors from Britain and overseas, selling and buying a variety of goods including silk, wool, garlic, hops and cheese. Many of the commodities that were sold live on in the names of the surrounding streets – Garlic Row, Oyster Row, Mercers Row and Cheddars Lane.

Our Annual Recreation of the Fair is more modest but just as exciting! There are stalls selling cheese, apple juice, garlic, cakes, honey and beeswax and entertainments including children’s games, the Capriol Mediaval Dancers, story telling and living history talks. We also have our own Alchemist and Medieval Peddlars as well as a bookstall and a stall run by the Cambridge Preservation Society, who own and care for the Chapel.

Any money raised at the Fair will go towards the construction of easier access to the Chapel for our less able visitors and for the installation of facilities that will make the Chapel an even more attractive venue for events and exhibitions.

The 2007 Stourbridge Fair will open at midday on Saturday 8th September.

If you are interested in having a stall or offering an activity at the fair please contact: info@theleperchapel.org.uk