Phil on 8 Sep 2003  •  Link

Southwark as an area: http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…

Paul Brewster on 10 Sep 2003  •  Link

L&M footnote: "Southwark Fair, originally authorised to run from 7 to 9 September ... had like most fairs extended its duration and now lasted for 14 days."

Paul Brewster on 10 Sep 2003  •  Link

Here's a later image of the fair from William Hogarth
http://www.abcgallery.com/H/hogar…

Paul Brewster on 11 Sep 2003  •  Link

More materials on Hogarth and Southwark Fair
http://members.fortunecity.de/hog…

Brian G McMullen on 15 Sep 2003  •  Link

St.George The Martyr Church was (and is) on The Borough Street, south of London Bridge. According to the following site:

http://www.stgeorgethemartyr.fsne…

The church was situated at the end of the road with St.George’s Fields lying beyond.

The Rocque map reference is:

http://www.motco.com/Map/81002/Se…

If you scroll to the lower right corner of the map section you will see St.George. Interestingly enough, there is another Axe Yard slightly further down on Borough.

A closer view of the St.George’s Bell Tower in the Hogarth painting can be found at:

http://members.fortunecity.de/hog…

Bill on 28 Jul 2013  •  Link

Southwark Fair, called also the Lady Fair and St. Margaret's Fair. It was one of the three great fairs of special importance described in a Proclamation of Charles I., "unto which there is usually extraordinary resort out of all parts of the kingdom." The three fairs were Bartholomew Fair, Sturbridge Fair, near Cambridge, and Our Lady Fair, in the borough of Southwark. Liberty to hold an annual fair in Southwark, on September 7, 8, and 9, was granted to the City of London by the charter of 2 Edward IV. (November 2, 1462), but it was probably held long before in a loose informal manner.

September 13, 1660.—I saw in Southwark at St. Margaret's Faire, monkies and apes dance and do other feates of activity on ye high rope; they were gallantly clad a la mode, went upright, saluted the company, bowing and pulling off their hatts; they saluted one another with as good a grace as if instructed by a dauncing-master. They turn'd heels over head with a basket having eggs in it without breaking any; also with lighted candles in their hands and on their heads without extinguishing them, and with vessells of water without spilling a drop. I also saw an Italian wench daunce and performe all the tricks on ye high rope to admiration; all the Court went to see her. Likewise here was a man who tooke up a piece of iron cannon of about 400 lb. (sic) weight with the haire of his head onely.—Evelyn.
---London, Past and Present. H.B. Wheatley, 1891.