THE historic Woolmarket in Horndon on the Hill will be the theme for this year's annual Feast & Fayre in the village to be staged at the end of June.

This year, the community hall celebrates its 500th anniversary and its long history will provide the backdrop for the Feast & Fayre activities to take place over the weekend of June 28th and 29th.

"The Woolmarket is first mentioned, as the seat of the local court, in official documents in 1525," commented Horndon resident Jane Barry, who has compiled a history of the ancient building.

"There was certainly a market on that site as early as 1277, when Robert Gifford was granted, by King Edward 1, the privilege of holding an annual fair on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, in late June. We do know the market had 70 stalls, some of which were workshops. Wool and grain were traded. All the goods people needed were made or sold there, including shoes, candles, bread and beer, and much besides."

Although the roots of Feast & Fayre date back to the 13th century, there was a hiatus from 1873 until the 1970's, when it was fully revived. Since then, it has become one of Essex's largest and most popular village events, attracting thousands of visitors over the course of the weekend.

Feast & Fayre still has strong links with St Peter & St Paul's Church and its annual flower festival will run alongside the event.

As in previous years, the festival will see the village streets lined with craft, food and charity stalls plus street entertainers and music of all kinds. The two village pubs, The Bell and The Swan will also be providing an array of food, drink and entertainment. The Horndon 10k, organised by Thurrock Harriers, will again take place on Sunday morning with 500 runners expected to take part.

Joint chair of the Feast & Fayre organising committee is Nick McDonald, who owns and runs Reddingtons Butcher, which has provided produce for the village either as a grocery store or butchers since the late 1890's.

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"We're really pleased to have such a wonderful theme for this year's Feast & Fayre and as The Woolmarket is in the centre of the village it will be at the core of our activities this year," he said.

Stallholders wishing to take a roadside or under cover pitch at Feast & Fayre 25 should email Melanie Devonshire at [email protected]