MORE than 700 people turned out to blustery Christchurch Quay on Saturday to celebrate the historic St Faith’s Fair.
Local people in medieval costume were celebrating the everyday lives of the town’s 13th century residents with a host of music, games, food and historical displays.
The original fair was centred on the feast day of St Faith and was held after the 21-year-old Lord of the Manor, Baldwin de Redvers, was granted a royal charter by King Henry III in December 1257.
Event organiser Phil Tate said: “It’s remarkable to think that Place Mill was already well over 100 years old when the first St Faith’s Fair was held in 1258, and here we are over 100 years after the fair was abolished in 1871 and the mill’s still standing.
“It’s one of the town’s historic gems and deserves to be celebrated.”
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