HISTORY

Riding the Stang 1982 Climbing the greasy pole 1982

Corby Pole Fair

A celebration of living history!

It’s barely dawn, the birds are just waking up, and suddenly the bells of the Parish Church of St John, start to ring out. A crowd of folks dressed in a variety of costumes gather around to listen to the proclamation of a three hundred- and forty-year-old document, signed by King Charles II. Wait! This can only be the Corby Pole Fair!

You are forgiven if you have never heard of this event. It only happens once every twenty years after all. And it’s going to happen this year, over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday, on Friday June 3rd.

The origins of the Corby Pole Fair may go back nearly nine hundred years. The earliest known settlement is thought to be even earlier, some thirteen hundred years ago. A Danish Viking, Kori gave his name to the village, and it may have been the early Viking settlers who introduced the idea of the ‘pole’, giving its name to the fair. A typical Viking punishment for men who had committed minor offences was to be captured and carried through the community astride an ash pole or ‘stang’, where villagers were free to hurl abuse, rocks or even rotten vegetables. This was known as ‘riding the stang’.

By the time the Domesday book was written in 1086, the thriving village was known as Corbei. Forty years later, Henry III granted the right for Corbei to hold two annual fairs and a market. But it was Elizabeth I who gave the greatest gift to the village in 1586. Local legend tells that the Queen was indulging her love of hunting in Rockingham Forest when during a storm, her horse stumbled into a bog and she fell.

Laura Malpas finds out what is planned to take place in Corby on June 3rd and delves into the history behind this ancient event.

The loyal villagers came to her rescue, and she was so grateful to them and to her favourite local Sir Christopher Hatton, that she granted a charter to the men and tenants of the manor of Corby, giving them important and valuable benefits. These included the right of pannage (the right to graze the forest), murage (the right to be free from taxes to repair Rockingham’s defensive walls), and best of all, freedom from the tolls usually paid by travellers as they travelled through England.

Sadly after the Civil Wars, Cromwell, the Lord Protector removed these rights, fun was frivolous, and taxes were to be paid by everyone. So big cheers were heard in Corby following the Restoration of the monarchy, when newly crowned Charles II ratified the Royal Charter granted by his predecessor Elizabeth.

But there are still mysteries surrounding the Pole Fair, why only every 20 years? And why is it associated with the charter, but not mentioned in it? Perhaps it is just to celebrate the generosity of ‘Good Queen Bess’ and who needs an excuse for a bit of fun anyway? The most enjoyed elements of the Pole Fair have remained consistent over the years. The day begins at dawn, with the ringing of the bells and the proclamation of the Charter as confirmed by Charles II, and witnessed by the Rector, the Mayor, and the oldest person born in the village of Corby. These three notables are then paraded around the village seated on chairs mounted on poles. This proclamation is repeated throughout the day. At this point, entry to the old village becomes chargeable with a ‘coin of the realm’. This is very important! If you fail to pay and display your ticket you may be captured and made to ‘ride the stang’ on the pole to the stocks, where your leg will be imprisoned. There you will have to wait until someone ‘pays you out’. The day is filled with music and colour, with processions, events and happenings, dancing and fancy dress, good food and drink, and a market to buy all sorts of things. One of the traditional highlights is the challenge to climb a greasy pole to rescue a ham, not as easy as it might sound!

Many fairs have taken place over the years, and occasionally mention has been made of them in the historic record. Perhaps most notably, in 1862, an escaped slave from Missouri named John Anderson was welcomed and ‘treated most kindly’ by the villagers of Corby. Anderson had been enslaved, and like many, kept illiterate. Aged thirty, he became a pupil at the village school, learning to read and write, and was freed from paying tolls to the fair. The following year he sailed away to a new life in Liberia.

Above: Crowds in the Old Village 1982

All black and white photos 1982 copyright Glyn Dobson (Northants Telegraph) supplied by Made With Many.

Left: John Anderson escaped from slavery in Missouri and settled in Corby where he was freed from paying tolls to the village Fair The last five Pole Fairs have come at a time when the people of Corby most needed to be cheered and to celebrate life. In 1922, the effects of the Great War were still evident as the village had lost forty-one men, and the fragility of the peace in Europe was still a concern. In 1942, the country was still in the grip of the Second World War and so the Pole fair was delayed until 1947, when the celebration was sweet indeed. 1962 saw the growth of the new town and an increased population as Corby was strong economically, but the following fair in 1982 was very different. Corby had suffered dreadfully from hardship following the decision by British Steel to close the steelworks and let the blast furnaces go out. However, there was still steel inside the hearts of the people of Corby to survive and thrive. The 1982 Pole Fair was a much-needed boost to the locals, and in 2002, the most recent fair held was a great celebration by the newly revitalised town which even today is still experiencing spectacular growth.

The next Pole Fair will be on Friday 3rd June. The perfect time to celebrate our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, celebrate the benevolence of our former monarchs, and hopefully to celebrate the end of the pandemic, God willing!

There’s many plans afoot, and lots of ways to take part, from ringing the bells, entering the parade, or just coming along to enjoy the fun, If you would like to volunteer you can register your interest by emailing info@madewithmany.org.uk and if you would like to learn more about the day, then please visit

www.madewithmany.org/

corby-pole-fair-2022 and to keep up with the latest news, follow @corbypolefair on Facebook.

The lady who has it covered

Over three hundred different fabric books and hangers from the likes of Prestigious Textiles, Ashley Wilde, Swaffer and Beaumont Textiles grace the showroom of Sue Cardy who weaves her magic time and time again to ensure each client finds the right style to suit their home.

After the successful completion of courses including City & Guilds in Curtain Making & Soft Furnishing Techniques, Sue started to turn her love of curtain and blind making into a full-time career. Starting from her spare bedroom in 2008, later moving to larger bedrooms and eventually taking over the whole house, the decision was made to move everything into a local workshop. Over the next three years, despite the COVID crisis, Sue’s business continued to thrive, outgrowing this workshop. After much searching Sue eventually found ideal larger premises.

The new showroom and workshop, which opened in September 2021 at Sywell Aerodrome, is testament to the enviable reputation of her thriving business, Sue Cardy Curtains & Soft Furnishings. Customers can select from over 10,000 different fabrics, which range from luscious gold and blue printed velvets to crisp cottons and textured silks or linens, plains through to traditional and contemporary patterns, something for everyone.

Clients could risk feeling overwhelmed by the choices open to them, yet, under the designer eye of Sue, she can assist you to make that perfect selection, ticking all the boxes from colour to design and budget. The showroom also boasts a wealth of accessories from poles and finials to tiebacks and trims.

She said: “There is something very satisfying at being able to create a look which puts a smile on the face of a customer, sometimes there are even tears of happiness. Over the years you learn what works and what doesn’t. You can spend a small fortune decorating and furnishing a room, yet it is the extra finishing touches that will complete the look.”

Sue’s passion for her business continues to grow and she takes great pride when driving past a home where her creations hang proudly in the windows. Sue has built her reputation on customer service which is why she finds many customers coming back time and again as they decorate other areas in their homes. If you phone you will speak directly to Sue, or if she is with a customer, you can leave a message and she will always return your call.

Home visits are always an option, but many customers find it is time well-spent coming to the showroom where Sue can really showcase what can be created for maybe just a single window or a whole home.

Showroom visits are by appointment only as Sue may be out seeing clients or fitting and would hate anyone to have a wasted journey. They also enable Sue to give each customer plenty of time to make those all-important decisions that will make the best of their space.

Sue said: “When people come to the showroom, they can really get an idea of what can be possible for their home. Some already have a firm idea, but others ask for guidance. I can talk them through options to help them achieve the finish they are looking for.”

Curtains can be hand finished or machine finished to suit requirements and budget, all are made to measure with the option of matching cushions and lampshades. Roman blinds are all hand finished and are a very popular alternative.

The showroom houses a huge range of fabric samples to help with your choices

Beautiful design touches can be made with different curtain pole choices

With the rising energy costs Sue believes investing in good quality curtains could help to keep our homes warmer during the colder months, certainly enquiries for door curtains have increased recently. “Fabric choice is always important, but it is just as important to know which linings will achieve the best results.”

A professional fitter works alongside the business to ensure Sue’s creations are fitted perfectly, even in the most challenging spaces; corded tracks are available along with fully motorized options for curtains and all blinds.

From initial contact to final fitting Sue can guide you along the way. “We are there from start to finish, making sure we get it right means everything.”

Your home, your choice

A wide range of styles and designs available from Sue Cardy Curtains and Soft Furnishings.

Made to measure blinds in all styles including Roman, Venetian, roller and vertical.

Cushions with or without trimmings and lampshades to blend into the overall design.

Poles with finials from the elegant to the quirky that will not only be practical but add that finishing touch to any room.

Floral prints are still proving popular with pinks and blues a favourite, whilst many opt for gentle greens or the ever popular grey or neutral tones.

Sue said: “It is easy to spend hours browsing the internet looking for the right fabric but come to the showroom where you can not only see the true colours, but also feel the fabrics and their various textures.”

You can visit Sue at her showroom at Sywell Aerodrome, NN6 0BT by appointment. Call on 07977 460054 or 01604 495294 or by email: suecardy@hotmail.com There is plenty of free parking available. Visit Sue’s website at www.suecardy.com or follow her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ SueCardyCurtainsSoftFurnishings

Sue’s deft design touch can be seen first hand in the showroom setting

Sue Cardy Curtains & Soft Furnishings

Curtains • Fabrics • Accessories • Poles • Lampshades Blinds - Roman • Roller • Vision • Vertical • Venetian • Conservatory

Quality, made-to-measure curtains, blinds and soft furnishings, competitively priced to suit all budgets. Small enough to care, big enough to cope, from a single window to a complete house. Visit www.suecardy.com or follow me on

@SueCardyCurtainsSoft Furnishings

for ideas and fi nd out more about the services we can off er you.

View our range of fabrics, poles and blinds at our workshop by appointment or we can visit your home with a selection of fabrics.