132 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



The market ceased to exist about 1865 and the fairs now are of 

 little importance — they are held on the second Thursday in February, 

 March and April, and the Thursday before Whit-Sunday, and on 

 October 26th. About 1830 the fair held on the second Thursday in 

 March was described as " a good one for cattle and in consequence of 

 the great show the inhabitants were obliged to put up their windows. 

 From five to six o'clock the preceding evening, carts chiefly belonging 

 to Yorkshire clothiers, began to arrive and continued coming in until 

 the morning, when about eight or nine o'clock the cattle fair began 

 and lasted till three in the afternoon. Previously to any article being 

 sold, two individuals Matthew Horn and John Deighton having furnished 

 themselves with a fiddle and clarionet walked through the different 

 avenues of the town three times playing ' God save the King ' after which 

 some verses were repeated and when ' the fair had been walked ' thus, 

 business commenced." 



Since the change of style in 1752 Brough Hill fair has been held 

 on the last day of September and the first day of October, unless Sunday 

 intervenes, when the second day is held over to the 2nd of October. 

 This has always been one of the largest if not the largest fair in the 

 North of England, and immense numbers of cattle, sheep, horses, 

 especially unbroken ones, fell ponies and merchandise of every des- 

 cription were shown. Scotch dealers always attended in large numbers 

 with droves of Highland and black cattle, sheep and Galloway ponies. 

 It is now much reduced in size, scarcely any cattle and but few sheep 

 being on view, though it still retains its prestige for unbroken colts and 

 fillies and fell ponies. The pleasure part of the fair has increased of 

 late years. 



Wm. Hutchinson remarks in 1774 that " for several years past 

 the number of cattle exposed to sale, on an average amounted to eight 

 thousand and upwards, one thousand horses, together with a pro- 

 digious quantity of sheep. — All kinds of merchandise is brought to 

 this fair." 



ORTON. 



THE Orton market was held weekly on Wednesdays, under a 

 charter of Edward I. which was confirmed in 1678, and in addition 

 Cromwell granted a fair yearly on the Friday before Whitsuntide 



