Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Trinity Fair Charter, Granted by King Edward I

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Date:1281

Description:This is Newcastle-under-Lyme’s oldest surviving charter.
A charter is a formal document granting rights given by a king or queen written by clerks in the royal chancery.

King Henry II gave Newcastle a ‘borough’ charter in 1173.
Medieval boroughs gained special privileges. It helped our town grow and flourish.
Newcastle's first borough charter is lost (we know about it from later charters and other documents).

By 1281 Newcastle was becoming an increasingly popular and prosperous market town.
The first three-day fair was granted in 1281, a 'Trinity Fair' was held over Trinity Sunday.
Trinity Sunday is a day to celebrate and give thanks to the Holy Trinity.
The Middle Ages saw a rise in these group feasts known as 'feasts of devotion' .

We are missing two charters relating to fairs from the medieval times.
One from 1336 granted by King Edward III, and another in 1438 by King Henry VI.
Both allow the town to hold more fairs.
Fairs were important events in the life of the town and attracted people from further afield.

The Trinity Fair charter is written in Latin, here is a translation:

‘EDWARD, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, constables, ministers and all bailiffs and his faithful subjects GREETING Know ye that by this our charter we have granted and confirmed at the request of our dearest brother Edmund to the bur-gesses and the present men of his town of Newcastle-under-Lyme that they and their successors, the men of the same town, may have in perpetuity a fair in that town during three days, to wit, upon the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Holy Trinity and so that such fair shall not be to the injury of neighbouring fairs. Wherefore we will and command for us and our heirs that the aforesaid burgesses and their successors, the men of the said town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, may have in perpetuity a Fair in the said town with all liberties and free customs to such a fair belonging.’

Translation taken from Medieval Newcastle-under-Lyme by Thomas Pape


Digitisation project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1800s
View from Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme looking south
View from Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme looking south

Watercolour by James Hulse of a view looking from Red Lion Square towards the High ...

1840s
Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme

A pencil and coloured wash by John Whessell. This drawing captures Red Lion Square ...

1860s
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Taken in 1860 this photograph shows the west side of the High Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme. ...

1890s
Newcastle Cycling Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle Cycling Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Photogragh of the Newcastle Cycling Club with penny-farthing bicycles.

1910s
Henry White's, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Henry White's, Newcastle-under-Lyme

This photograph taken from the junction of the Ironmarket and the High Street in ...

1950s
Old Bull's Head Inn, Lad Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Old Bull's Head Inn, Lad Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Photograph of the Old Bull's Head Inn in Lad Lane. The core of the pub is believed ...

1970s
Market Cross and Lancaster Buildings, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Market Cross and Lancaster Buildings, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Photograph of the Lancaster Buildings. Sutherland House can be seen behind.

1990s
Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Painted by Alf Fallows in 1996 this watercolour depicts Red Lion Square in Newcastle-under-Lyme. ...

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Donor ref:Nm.2016.6 (R) (22/49634)

Source: Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.