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About the Victorian Fair

Forget what the fair has been. Forget what you thought of previous years - the 2007 Victorian Fair is going to be and Oliver Twist theme!

History

The first Llantwit Major Victorian Fair was held in 1983, as the Towns contribution to the National Year of the Castle held throughout Wales. It attempts to recreate the impression of the Town, as it was 100 years ago.

The date selected for the event was the nearest Saturday to June 22nd, which was thought to be the traditional Annwyl Day, an event exclusive to Llantwit Major and which commemorates the victory over a band of Irish raiders. In actual fact Annwyl Day was May 3rd, oops! Please see the "Historical Information Clash" page of our Blog for a very in-depth historical rundown of this.

The celebration lapsed over some time at the start of this century and this exciting opportunity was taken to resurrect one of the real traditions of the Vale. The event will also help raise the profile of Llantwit Major and encourage tourism.

Also to enable Organisations and Charity Groups in Llantwit Major and the Vale of Glamorgan to raise funds and increase their profile in an enterprising and entertaining way.

The event is organisation by the Llantwit Major Victorian Fair Committee. It meets once a month to deal with the detailed administration of the event, and the Mayor of Llantwit Major is invited to stand as president.

Specialist representatives of organisations are invited to be co-opted members. The committee includes local Councillors, elects its own Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer etc to administer its fund accordingly. Its finances are derived solely from a charge made for each stand space and donations. This is expended on publicity, the hire of special attractions for the event, refreshments for official guests and local dignitaries, who act as judges and official opening parties for the various events, postage, stationary and minor expenses.

Arrangements are made with the local County Council and the local Constabulary for the temporary closure of streets in the Old Village area of Llantwit Major and adjoining thoroughfares.

The closed off streets are lined with Victorian styled stalls manned and supplied by local organisations and traders, in order to recreate the atmosphere of an original Victorian Street Fair and emphasis is placed on the provision of the type of produce one would have expected at that time.

All Stallholders are encouraged, by terms of their license which is issued to them by the Llantwit Major Victorian Fair Committee, to equip staff with Victorian period costume and this by common consent is widely imitated by the general public.