Centuries-old fair celebrated in town
IT'S been going for centuries and is showing no sign of losing its popularity.
Newton Abbot's historic cheese and onion fair once again drew scores of visitors to the town amid glorious September sunshine.
It has been declared a 'successful day all round' and thoughts are already turning to what next year will bring.
The show incorporated locally grown produce — including the obligatory cheese and onions — the usual Wednesday market stalls and the parade of two giant pasties from Newton Abbot Town Council's headquarters in Devon Square through the town centre to Market Square.
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Mayor Cllr Anne Fry was joined by other dignitaries for the parade.
The large cheese and onion and meat pasties were donated by market seller Lynn Howe, of Farmhouse Pies and Pasties.
It was auctioned off in exchange for a donation towards her charity of the year Cancer Research UK.
The total amount raised was £66. A collection tin gathered £168.
Shute Fruit and Produce, of Bishopsteignton, won this year's prize for best market stall.
Other entertainment in the town included a lace maker, a painter and live music by Cahoots.
Kelly Burridge, who organised the event on behalf of Newton Abbot Town Council, said: "Cheese and onions were two commodities which were brought in from other countries by traders, but now they are staples here, and we like to celebrate that.
"There was a great atmosphere which drew good crowds."
The fair can be traced back to the 12th century when the importance of Newton Abbot as a market town was beginning to grow.
When it first started, the fair was originally a chance for locals to buy food to last them through the winter, but the focus became about fun in Victorian times.
It declined over time, but was revived in 1954 and has been going strong ever since.
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