The Wizard of Ditchling

As dawn breaks on Fair Day, listen out for our Wizard of Ditchling as he weaves his way down the lanes summoning all denizens of Ditchling to assemble and celebrate the festivities.

On his rounds, he will also call at the houses of the Village Gems, where he recites a special proclamation and bids them to attend in their honoured capacity as Village Gems. Each Gem is awarded a certificate from the village as a mark of our gratitude.

In attendance throughout the morning, in the afternoon the Wizard leads the procession through the Village, where we finally gather on the Green to continue our revelries.

Sporting his personally designed unique ‘Coat of Memories’, the Wizard of Ditchling is also the custodian of your Fair Memories. If you have a special memory of the Fair, no matter how recent or old it might be, simply ask him for a memory tag; once written, you can attach it to the Coat of Memories where it will be kept safe for ever.

Please don’t be shy – approach the Wizard and have your special fair recollection held safe for future generations.

The Village Gems

Ditchling Village Gems for 2022. We are seeking nominations from the village who deserve to be recognised and celebrated, and Ditchling Fair is the perfect time to do this.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to enhance the life of Ditchling village and its community?

Do they live in the village? Are they 12 or over and know they’re being nominated? Crucially do they know they are being nominated and are willing to be part of our 2022 Fair day celebrations?

If the answer to all of the above is yes, then we would love to hear from you,
in order that the whole Village can thank them in style at the 2022 fair!

Click HERE to download an entry form, Please read and complete it carefully, and return the form to The VIllage Post office by 4pm on 3rd May 2022.

Morning Stalls

As the Church clock strikes 8.00am, Ditchling folk reclaim the street and the West Street once again becomes pedestrianised, and full of the wonderful stalls run by the locals.

Ranging from the wonderful to the weird, here you can find delicious homemade food and cakes for sale, eclectic competitions run by the local volunteer and interest groups and arts and crafts. There is something for everyone, and so if you would like to book a stall and get involved please do get in touch. There are only a few slots left, and they are filling up fast so get in touch today.

Fair Proclamation

On the morning of the fair, it has become tradition for this proclamation to be read to the gathering crowds and we thank the Rev. David Wallis for rising to the challenge again.

Of course the proclamation does not date from the Middle Ages, like our Fair, but was a village effort. First declaimed in 1953 by actor Donald Sinden during a visit to his boyhood home, it was composed and inscribed by Dr F. W. Linton-Bogle, the local general practioner. The parchment scroll, which is held in Ditchling Museum, was designed by the artist Grace Denman, who lived in the High Street for many years.

In this year of grace MMXXII, the seventieth in the reign of our most gracious majesty Queen Elizabeth, the second of her name, the Ditchling Fair will be held on June the eighteenth.

Wherefore all ye who dwell in Ditchling, whether at Sobers, Senge, Gospels, Pardons, Dowsings, Starlings, Cotterlings, Chettles, Chitterlings, etc, etc, or more surprisingly at Bracadale, Warfdale, Elogndale and Teesdale; all ye Estatesmen of Neville and of Shirley; all ye who by your activities and attainments have added a note of High Seriousness to live on Lodge Hill and down at the Lees; all ye who eke out a stark and lonely semi-Westmeston existance in Spatham and Underhill lanes; all ye who quick homeward through the uncut gorse on Ditchling Common; all ye, too, who pace in privacy your shorn Plantagenet lawns at Hillway, Lexden and at Downsland Court; and last and most lovingly all ye Saucy Coxcombs, ye Doddipol, Jolkheads, ye Jobbernol Goosecaps, ye Noddy Meacocks, ye flutch Calf Lollies, ye Slapsauce fellows whose address is just plain Ditchling tout-court.

Ye are hereby exhorted, invited and commanded to lurk no longer slubberdegullion behind the wood work of your half timbered houses, nor to peer like paulty customers snub bottle-nosed against the long lozenged panes of your leaded windows at out Pagent and processions, our street stalls and side shows, our Sports and Maypole Dances, but rather…

To come forth spry and spracker from your Dymmocks and your Jointures, your Bowries and your Boddingtons, your Twittens and your Rookeries, having already diluted yourselves with an horrific trait of an un grand vin á la Ridgeview Estate or with a firkin or two of Ale from the White Horse or the Bull, and grace with all your presences the High Class Goings On in the Alme, Inclyt and Celebrate Villagio which is vocitated…DITCHLING

Ditchling Mummers

We have been told by a reliable source that this Fair’s Mummers’ play is going to be something really special.

Looking at the local village rivalries, this new play is guaranteed to wow everyone who sees it.Check them out on West Street (timings will all be available from the programme due to be published in early June). They will be raising money for St Peter and St James Hospice.

Harris’s Old Tyme Fair

The Harris Fair rides are a wonderful and timeless addition to our fair, and we are delighted to welcome back Harris’s Old Tyme Fair.

Started over 160 years ago, and still operated by the Harris family it is a glorious part of Ditchling Fair. The glorious wooden horses on the galloper or merry-go-round give us all that nostalgic feeling for fairs of yesteryear, and feel as important to making a fair day as they would have in Victorian England. So climb aboard and ride these classic fair ground experiences.

Food & Drink

We think it is fair to say that food and drink are a key component of Ditchling Fair day! And right from the start of the morning events you will find some fabulous offerings to sustain you.

Ditchling is blessed with a number of fine establishments – we have The Bull and The White Horse, plus The Nutmeg Tree and The Green Welly. All conveniently placed to pop into, meet friends and family and still be on hand to come and witness all the fun and frolics going on in the village as fair day begins in earnest.

Scarecrows

The Fair Scarecrow Competition began in 2004 and once again we thank the residents of Ditchling for continuing the creative reputation of our village.

Naturally from fair to fair we have no idea what surprises you will find as you walk around the village, but we know you will be entertained by the effort that has gone into these creations. The theme for this year’s fair is Joy & Jubilation. All entries should be based around our theme.

The scarecrows will be characters, stories or events that invoke the theme…what can you find? There is no limit to the number of scarecrows in each scene, so if you make Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this would be judged as one entry. If a family/household wishes to make scarecrows representing different topics, then separate entry forms and fees are required for each topic.

All the details of how and when to enter will be published nearer the time, but be sure to get creating your family masterpiece during May in order that it is ready for display a week before the fair date.

The scarecrows will be judged by public vote. First, second and third prizes will be awarded to the winners on Fair Day and a trophy will be awarded for first prize. A scarecrow map will be available from the Post Office – details to follow.

If you wish to make a scarecrow but do not have a location where it would be visible, you may place your scarecrow on the property of another resident if you have their permission. The prizes will be awarded to the creator of the scarecrow, not the owner of the property.

Looking for inspiration for this year’s competition? View our previous scarecrow galleries under the About section on this website.