The team organising the 2025 Henfield Fair would love to invite you to save the date, with further information to follow.
Please note the date has changed from 19th July, and will now take place early September.
Henfield Common – A Fair Tradition
In 1647, the Survey of Henfield recorded two annual Fairs, taking place in the village and on Henfield Common. These were turbulent times in England with civil wars raging between the King’s loyalists and Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentary Roundheads – by 1651 King Charles II had to flee for his life cross country to Shoreham, thence to France.
Through all these times, tiny rural Henfield continued to celebrate village Fairs up to around 1830. Henry de Candole’s ‘Story of Henfield’ also describes a ‘White Hart Club Day’ when the High Street was filled with a lively Fair, and Pillory Green once next to Cagefoot Lane was also a site for annual fairs.
It is on beautiful Henfield Common –where a Fair has lasted in one form or another down the years. Henfield Parish Council used to organise this event in partnership with the BP Guild and WI - a huge task needing good teamwork with all the major partners – all those people must be thanked for carrying this tradition. This year – some people met informally to talk about bringing back our Common Fair once more – and it is clear there is great enthusiasm for coming back together to celebrate, show cakes, jams, flowers, art and veg, see animal shows, listen to music, share delicious food, and enjoy the traditional entertainments of a Fair as a community. Funding is the crux of the matter, and work is taking place on this.
The team have been talking to all those previous organisers and wish to thank you all who they have talked to and given support.
Any enquiries/communications please get in touch with Andrea or Sarah, by email or phone.