Carlisle Great Food Fair
(Date of issue: Monday, 24 August 2009)
An ancient Proclamation dating back to
1352 marks the official opening of the Carlisle Great Food Fair
this Saturday (29 August) and will be held at the newly restored
Market Cross monument.
The Proclamation is a declaration of the City
Council’s rights to hold an annual Fair in August, originally
granted to the citizens of Carlisle in 1352 by Edward III. A
Procession, involving the Mayor of Carlisle, Councillor William
Graham, and other civic dignitaries, will watch Deputy Chief
Executive, Dr Jason Gooding, recite the Carlisle Great Fair
Proclamation at 10am. A Town Crier will also be in attendance.
The Market Cross restoration work began in
June and the protective fencing will be removed today (Monday, 24
August). The six-week programme aimed to bring the city centre’s
historic monument back to life and was done by Carlisle City
Council, with specialist help from heritage architectural firm St
Astier and English Heritage.
The Market Cross is made up of a series of
pieces of stone all held together using cast-iron dowels and pegs.
These have corroded over time, causing the stone to expand and
crack. They have been replaced with stainless steel pins, new steps
have been carved and the old worn ones replaced and the Lion, an
important element of the stone work, has been extensively
repaired.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike
Mitchelson, said:
“The restoration programme is a skilled and time
consuming job, which has all been possible as a result of careful
preparation and the use of our, and partners, skilled
professionals. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved and
hope the Market Cross continues to play a major part in the day to
day comings and goings in the city centre.”
The Market Cross Proclamation will follow on
from the start of Carlisle City Council’s Food Fair, which opens
for business this Thursday (27 August). The city centre food fair
will continue throughout the Bank Holiday weekend and will include
the return of the popular Continental Market throughout the
five-day event and a Local Producers’ Market on Friday and
Saturday.
The Continental Market, arranged by the Market
Place Europe Ltd, will feature a host of traders from the far
reaches of Europe and beyond. Goods will include charcuterie
specialist meats, freshly baked pastries, a Spanish trader cooking
authentic paella and beer merchants from Poland and Germany.
“Aarons” will also attend selling a wide range of exotic and rare
meats such as alligator, ostrich and springbok.
Green – fingered shoppers will not be
disappointed, as the market will include the ‘Flying Dutchman’,
Dick van de Wardt, one of the largest plant, flower and bulb
specialists from Holland.
A variety of crafts stalls will also be on
show, ranging from Asian jewellery to traditional Russian
Dolls.
The Local Producers’ Market includes traders selling local
produce such as Cumberland Sausage, Cumberland Mustard, preserves
& pickles, cakes and truffles. Cumbria is full of such culinary
masterpieces, from simple loaves from local bakeries to dishes in
Michelin starred restaurants, real ale and damson gin. The
programme will also include daily entertainment