trinkie
08-Jul-07, 19:23
Here is part of an article I found, written some years ago by G.D.M.
" ......A look at the list of twelve yearly Fairs in Caithness in the late 17th century reveals that they seemed to be allied in some way to the Kirks.
Starting in May was "St Minnan's Fair" at the Chapple in Freswick, Canisby followed by the "Rood-Mass Fair" at the Chapple of Dyne Watten".
Summer saw the "Peter-Mass Fair at Thurso" and the "Mary-mass Fair at Dinnet" The end of the summer and the start of winter marked the "Hallow-mass Fair at Dunbeath" the "Meg-mass Fair at the Kirk of Bower" the "Trodmass Fair at the Kirk of Olrick" and the "Fergus-mass Fair in the town of Wike" all in November.
Other Fairs mentioned were "Luke-mass in Dinnet" "Kela-mass in Reay" and "Magnus-mass in Watten."
An extract from the Acts of Parliament for Scotland in 1707 indicates the growing commercial value of Fairs when James Sinclair of Lyth was enabled to constitute five fairs on his estates to be called " St James Fairs " These were at Spittle in Halkirk; Brabsterdoran, Lyth and Standstill in Bower. Wester Watten and Scouthall in Watten.
...................One feature of Caithness Fairs was that no bargain could be struck without adjournment to the tents to seal the contract in mountain dew. An extract from the John O'Groat Journal of 1867 is as follows -
" St Trothan's Fair was held at Castletown on Tuesday.
More than 200 people attended for whose accommodation there were three whisky tents."
E&OE. trinkie
" ......A look at the list of twelve yearly Fairs in Caithness in the late 17th century reveals that they seemed to be allied in some way to the Kirks.
Starting in May was "St Minnan's Fair" at the Chapple in Freswick, Canisby followed by the "Rood-Mass Fair" at the Chapple of Dyne Watten".
Summer saw the "Peter-Mass Fair at Thurso" and the "Mary-mass Fair at Dinnet" The end of the summer and the start of winter marked the "Hallow-mass Fair at Dunbeath" the "Meg-mass Fair at the Kirk of Bower" the "Trodmass Fair at the Kirk of Olrick" and the "Fergus-mass Fair in the town of Wike" all in November.
Other Fairs mentioned were "Luke-mass in Dinnet" "Kela-mass in Reay" and "Magnus-mass in Watten."
An extract from the Acts of Parliament for Scotland in 1707 indicates the growing commercial value of Fairs when James Sinclair of Lyth was enabled to constitute five fairs on his estates to be called " St James Fairs " These were at Spittle in Halkirk; Brabsterdoran, Lyth and Standstill in Bower. Wester Watten and Scouthall in Watten.
...................One feature of Caithness Fairs was that no bargain could be struck without adjournment to the tents to seal the contract in mountain dew. An extract from the John O'Groat Journal of 1867 is as follows -
" St Trothan's Fair was held at Castletown on Tuesday.
More than 200 people attended for whose accommodation there were three whisky tents."
E&OE. trinkie