BARTHOLOMEW FAIR, a fair held in West Smithfield, London, on St. Bartholomew's Day from 1133 to 18J5. The charter was granted by Henry I. to his former minstrel, Rahere, who had founded the priory of St. Bartholomew. For centuries the fair lasted a fortnight, but in 1691 it was shortened to four days. In 1641 it involved no less than four parishes : Christ Church, Great and Little St. Bartholomew's, and St. Sepulchre's. It was customary for the lord mayor of London to open the fair formally on St. Bartholomew's Eve. The fair grew to be a vast national market and the chief cloth sale in the kingdom. Down to 18S4 it was usual for the representative of the Merchant Taylors' Guild to proceed to the cloth fair which formed part of Bartholomew Fair, and test the measures used for selling cloth there by the company's silver yard. The fair was finally closed in 1855.
For a full account see Prof. H. Morley, Memoirs of Bartholomew Fair (1859).