134 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



AMBLESIDE. 



AMBLESIDE had the grant of a weekly market in 1650 and two 

 fairs yearly on Wednesday in Whitsun week and on the i8th of 

 October, with court of Pie-powdre. This grant was confirmed and 

 extended by James II. in 1688 to certain gentlemen for a weekly market 

 on Wednesday and two fairs yearly on the days previously granted 

 and the days following and a fair every fortnight on Wednesday from 

 the Whitsuntide fair to St. Luke's fair, with " reasonable toll, tallage, 

 piccage, fines, amercements, and other profits to the same appertaining, 

 to the use and behoof of the poor inhabitants of the town of 

 Ambleside." 



In 1787 Clarke wrote that " It hath one tolerable good fair, viz. 

 on the 29th of October, commonly called the ' Tip- Fair.' There is on 

 that day a good shew of long-horned heifers, and Tips, which sell at a 

 great price. The country meet to drink and dance as at wakes, and 

 the steward reads the charter." 



"The weekly market at Ambleside is on Wednesday " — wrote Green 

 in 1819 — " and is almost exclusively for animal food, but the butchers 

 not being resident attend twice a week during summer. Fish, butter, 

 eggs, poultry and other articles of food are hawked from house to 

 house — the sheltered standing under the market and cross, houses not 

 being used." 



The market house was re-built about 1796 on the site of a pre- 

 viously existing one, a bell being rung on the commencement of the 

 market, but this ceased about 1815, when the sale of spun wool declined. 

 The market house was again re-buUt in 1863 by the late B. Harrison 

 together with a Mechanics' Institute, at a cost of £1200. The market 

 ceased to exist many years ago and the house has been let as a shop. 



In 1840 a fair was started for sheep on October 13th, when 2000 

 were on view ; this fair stiU continues, in addition to the ones on 

 the Wednesday in Whit-week and the 29th of October, which is now 

 chiefly for cattle. Till about 1875 the fairs used to be held in the 

 streets, when they were removed into a field near the church. They 

 are still of considerable importance. At the sheep fair on October 13th, 

 1909, Herdwick ewes brought 20s. 6d. to 23s. 6d., wethers 17s. 6d. to 

 21S. 6d., gimmer shearlings 20s. to 23s. 3d., gimmer lambs 9s. 6d. to 

 14s., and wether lambs up to 6s. 6d. each. 



