An historic ‘Grand Fancy Bazaar’ will be the inspiration for a special event being held in Much Wenlock this month.
Madeleys Chartered Surveyors will be hosting a business reception on October 22, 2015, the date of which is the anniversary of the historic event.
On October 22, 23 and 24 in 1856 the town hosted the bazaar in aid of a fund to allow the Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society (WARS) to add a working men’s reading room to the Corn Exchange.
WARS was created in 1841 to encourage the local farmers and working men to read and improve their minds.
According to The Wellington Journal, Shropshire Advertiser and Shrewsbury Chronicle in 1856 the bazaar featured displays of art, the most recent results of scientific discovery, stalls displaying locally made embroidery, needlework, drawings and paintings – and a whole floor of the Corn Exchange was dedicated to an agricultural equipment.
And it was the agricultural aspect of the bazaar that caught the attention of Paul Madeley, of Madeleys Chartered Surveyors, who will host their event at the Priory Hall, Much Wenlock.
“Our business reception will officially launch our new website and will be a community event that local farmers, landowners, and the businesses of Much Wenlock, can enjoy,” he said.
“When we found out that our event fell on the anniversary of the bazaar we immediately wanted to find out more about this event that attracted so many people to Much Wenlock more than 150 years ago.
“And as one of our clients has a wonderful collection of agricultural equipment we thought we could re-enact part of the bazaar.”
After the successful opening of the Agricultural Reading rooms at the Corn Exchange in 1852 supporters of the society set about raising funds to build new rooms and facilities and the October bazaar was one of the ways they chose to do it.
An advert on August 9, 1856, in The Wellington Journal and Shropshire Advertiser stated that: “The contributions already presented include a great variety of useful, elegant, and recently invented articles, from some of the most eminent firms in London, Edinburgh, and the principle manufacturing towns, an inspection of which will amply repay those who may honour the Bazaar by a visit; whilst the importance of the object cannot fail to enlist the sympathy and support of all who feel interested in the welfare of the working classes.”
The organising committee included some familiar names including William Penny Brookes who was secretary of the gentleman’s committee and his daughters Adeline and Mary who were honorary secretaries of the ladies committee.
“We wanted to choose a venue that had historic links with the bazaar and the Priory Hall was once the National School of Much Wenlock where William Penny Brookes was a governor,” added Mr Madeley.
During the 1856 Grand Bazaar the basement floor of the Corn Exchange displayed agricultural equipment – including a diagonal harrow made by William’s of Derby and a champion plough made by Howard’s of Bedford.
At the event this month the agricultural display will be provided by Mr D Harper of J.B Harper & Son, Morrells Wood Farm, Leighton, and will include a collection of agricultural bygones and equipment.
In addition to running the farm and a successful holiday business, an environmental stewardship package allows Mr Harper to regularly invite school parties onto the farm for his informative ‘From Farm to Fork’ talk, which provides pupils with an insight into traditional agriculture.
The Grand Bazaar proved to be a success, and attracted a large number of local dignitaries and personalities. Over 800 people visited on the first day alone and it was reported that the proceeds were: Wednesday £220, Thursday £130, Friday £75 13 6 and Saturday £50.
These proceeds went towards paying for the expansion of the Corn Exchange, into which a new room was built which housed the music and drawing class of the Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society.
Mr Madeley will also be raising money for a good cause at the October 22 event, which will be held from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, and all funds will go to The Much Wenlock Community First Responders.
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