Stop 6: Village Fair-Information
From the 1920’s to the 1940’s, there was a large Village Fair that took place on the Recreation Ground. After the Second World War, the annual summer village fair was held here, in the grounds of a property then called “Fieldcote”at 74 Links Lane; the grounds of this property then stretching across to Bowes Hill and nearly as far as Wellsworth Lane. It was organised by the Rowlands Castle branch of the Conservative Association and Young Conservatives and it was billed as a “Fete and Flower show” by kind permission of Colonel Farmer who then owned “Fieldcote”. It ran from 2.30pm until 7.30 pm. The entrance was either from Links Lane or Bowes Hill and there was a car park at the corner of Bowes Hill and Wellsworth Lane.
The original Fair was similar to the fair on the Green today with marquees, people selling produce and a “tug of war”. On one occasion in the 1950s the Fair was opened by Tommy Trinder who was then a very well-known personality. He charged two shillings and 6d for his autograph; the money being donated to Fulham Football Club, of which he was a great fan.
When this event closed, there was no Fair for a few years and then the Conservative Party put on Summer Fairs for a few years in the grounds of Deerleap House. There was a further break for a few years, and then in 1973 the Fair moved to the Village Green. For the first few years, it was successfully run by villagers but since 1976, it has been organised by the Village Fair Committee. The Fair is a lively event with stalls from a wide variety of organisations along with food and drink, music and play equipment for children. Don’t miss the Model Railway showing Rowlands Castle on the eve of D-Day, which will be displayed in the Church on the Green. The Tug of War no longer occurs but maybe someone would like to revive the tradition?