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06 Mar 00 - 08:03 AM (#190302) Subject: 18th C village fair From: Steve Parkes I am forced to admit there is something I don't know! I'm relying on you folks to keep this under your hats, but I have to do a little research. I live in a little village in Staffordshire called Stonnall. We've decided to celebrate the new ... oops, nearly used the 'N' word! Let's just say we've decided to celebrate, and we're going to hold an 18th century day of entertainments. we shall have all the usual outdoor fun, like food sellers, musicians, games, sideshows. The problem is, getting down to specifics, what did 18th c people do for fun? What did they eat? Did the have broadside sellers back then? We could have a public hanging, complete with the 'last confession of the condemned man' on sale; and maybe a last-minute rescue (to be on the safe side). If anyone can offer suggestions, I'd be dead chuffed. Steve |
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06 Mar 00 - 08:38 AM (#190308) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Steve Parkes ... and not forgetting folk/popular songs of the period! I also forgot to say, we're looking specifically at the years between 1780 - 1805. Ta, Steve |
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06 Mar 00 - 08:58 AM (#190315) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: The_one_and_only_Dai Steve - for public hangings, get in touch with your local Sealed Knotters. They have all the equipment and accreditations. Try contacting some of the napoleonic/regency re-enactors who abound, through English Heritage - they are more than happy to offer advice, in my experience. Golly, my house was buit in 1780, you can borrow that if you like (even though it's 80 miles away) |
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06 Mar 00 - 10:10 AM (#190354) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Timehiker Steve, The Napoleonic Association is a good place to start. I think they are still headquartered there in England. The folks at Smoke and Fire News may be able to help. You can reach them by e-mail editor@smoke-fire.com You can also e-mail the columnist who writes about historical games for them writer2@reliable-net.net Some simple board games have worked well for me. I use nine holes, three men's morris, nine men's morris, and fox and geese. Our local historical society has used badminton and cricket to get the public involved. They have also reenacted local court cases illustrating the evolution of freedom of religion in Virginia. And of course, period music is always fun. Take care, Timehiker |
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06 Mar 00 - 10:50 AM (#190370) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler ...And there was me thinking Stonnall was still in the 18th Century...heh, heh ,heh.[sorry ower kid,owny coddin'] RtS |
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06 Mar 00 - 12:37 PM (#190430) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Gervase A pal of mine, an archaeologist called Jon Price,runs a living history outfit based in the north east called TimeTravellers - working mainly for schools, but also for other events. They've done stuff for festivals, museums and what-have-you all over the place, including in London. You can contact him through the website, www.timetravellers.org. Even if he can't supply people, expertise etc, he will almost certainly know a bloke who can. |
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06 Mar 00 - 06:58 PM (#190662) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: bill\sables I believe in those days it was leagal to sell your wife at market if she nagged you too much. You could also grab a local granny and tie her to a ducking stool as a witch, and put a couple of the local police or MPs in the stocks, that should be very popular. But seriously I'll check a few books and find out what else ther did then and get back to you. Cheers Bill |
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17 Mar 00 - 03:40 AM (#196652) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Steve Parkes Thanks for the helpful ideas, folks. Sorry I've been a long time replying - busy-busy-busy at the moment. We've got lots of people at home who like dressing up in funny clothes (in the shape of the Stonnall Players), so I'll have to avoid the re-enacters for the time being. Dai, the committee will be staying over at your house for a week or two; have you got room for a couple of horses too? Steve |
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27 Jan 11 - 08:49 AM (#3083296) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Jim Dixon Be sure to have lots of furmity on hand. See the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge for this as well as wife-selling. No, wait, that's 19th century. Oh, well. Who would know the difference, nowadays? |
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27 Jan 11 - 09:19 AM (#3083308) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Brian Peters Village bands were around in the late 18th - early 19th century. And they would have played for dancing (see Under the Greenwood Tree, talking of Hardy). |
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27 Jan 11 - 09:22 AM (#3083309) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: GUEST,leeneia If you want nice people to come and bring their children, forget the hanging. That's my advice. How about checking with the local or regional historical society for advice? |
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27 Jan 11 - 10:14 AM (#3083338) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Desert Dancer Jim Dixon (or probably a deleted spammer) has refreshed an 11-year-old thread, folks. |
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27 Jan 11 - 11:19 AM (#3083370) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: EBarnacle As one who enjoys the local RenFaire, don't omit the hanging--as long as there is a last minute rescue. In the Stirling Faire, there is always a hairsbreadth escape from death by the hero, usually Robin Hoode or a standin, while rescuing Good Queen Bess. |
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27 Jan 11 - 01:48 PM (#3083451) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Little Robyn Steve, it was a long time ago - how did it go? Have they repeated the fair since then? Did anyone think of stocks or a pillary - much friendlier than hanging. Robyn |
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27 Jan 11 - 02:11 PM (#3083473) Subject: RE: Help: 18th C village fair From: Steve Parkes Blimey, here's a blast from the past! Well: if memory serves, it went very well. I walked up & down playing no. 3 mandolin (the expendable one) and pretending to be a wandering musician, we got the road officially "closed" (i.e. we set up stalls in it, but some idiots still insisted in driving through); we had a little mumming play in the scout hut; and local artist Peter Pritchard sold signed copies of his illustrated map of the village. We may even have raised some money for charity. I don't think it's been done again, but the Players are still going strong after 34 years (mainly indoors!) |