Pack Monday is an annual street fair held in Sherborne, Dorset, and is traditionally held on the Monday following Old Michaelmas Day. Originally an agricultural fair, it now comprises a range of over 250 stalls, both artisan and local fabulous food stalls and traditional stalls that everyone loves with the traditional fairground to be found a short walk from the market at the Terrace Playing Fields .
This year Pack Monday is on Monday 14th October starting at 8.00 and finishing at 22.00.
Image courtesy of Sherborne Museum
The true origins of the fair are lost in the mists of time but according to one local tradition, the fair and its noisy announcement originated at the completion of the building of Sherborne Abbey when the fifteenth century workmen ‘packed up’ their tools and “held a fair or wake, in the churchyard, blowing cows’ horns in their rejoicing”.
The fair is now traditionally commenced by Teddy Roe’s band which sets off at midnight on a traditional route through the town, banging on pots and improvised instruments, generally making as much noise as they can; it’s a unique start to any event.
Image courtesy of Sherborne Museum
Another suggestion is that the word ‘pack’ in the title of the fair is in fact more likely to refer to the day on which workers packed up their belongings to move house at the end of the annual term of employment, the old Michaelmas day being one of the most common days for the annual move. Alternatively, ‘pack’ may relate to itinerant sellers and their wares as in ‘pack-man’ or “packhorse”.
Whatever the origins, the event is still enjoyed today by as many as 50,000 visitors, it’s not just the market and the funfair there’s plenty more on during the day to keep you entertained.
Image courtesy of Sherborne Museum
The night before the Pack Monday Fair, ‘Teddy Roe’s Band’ process through the streets blowing horns and banging drums. It is believed that this commemorates the completion of the Abbey nave by Abbot Ramsam (c.1490) when the workmen marched around the streets banging their tools.
Teddy Roe is believed to have been the foreman of the Abbey workers.
Image courtesy of Sherborne Museum
The more recent history of Teddy Roes band was told to Simon by his mother. During the war years his Grandfather Jack Lugg and his brother Alwin Lugg and their friend Billy Brown kept up the ritual of the band by walking the route, which was then much longer, just shaking their keys. As in the war you couldn’t make much noise or shine any lights.
After the war the number of participants increased again and Simon’s mum recalls as many as 100 people marching around.
Simon’s father recalls that in the late 1950’s if you lived on the route and had a sick person at home you could apply to the band committee to have straw put on the road to mark a quiet place.
The original route followed the outer edge of Sherborne before wheeling it’s way into town, the band has always met just before midnight at what is now the car park on the A30 before going up Bristol Road, Kings road, Wooton Grove, down the Avenue, into Newlands down Long Street past the Abbey, going down Westbury, past the Silk Mills and the Glass Factory before coming back into town
via Horsecastles for the final stop at The Cross Keys where revelry would continue until the early hours.
The route was changed in the early 60’s after a number of people who had been made redundant from the Silk Mills smashed a load of windows when they went past and the route was changed to do the top of Westbury then onto Acreman street.
Simon was about 18 in 1978 when he started joining in Teddy Roes band, he always made more noise than the rest with 12v airhorns, car battery’s and a pram. But anything goes in Teddy Roe’s band, pots, pans, wooden spoons and dustbin lids, the noisier the better. In times gone by some members of The Sherborne Town Band would attend with their brass instruments to ramp up the noise output.
The 80’s saw the rowdiest of bands and on some occasions there were more police then reveler’s.
The band still continues, if you want to join in this year the band will meet at the intersection of Bristol road, by the kebab shop at the Car Park entrance before setting off at Midnight, dig out your pots, pans and dustbin lids and come and join in the centuries old tradition unique to Sherborne. The fabulous Ed Cole at the Carvery by the conduit will be opening his hatch to provide teas and coffees for those in need of a warm up.
