Corby Pole Fair LIVE - follow all the action from the 2022 pole fair with us TODAY
The Corby Pole Fair 2022 is under way – and you can watch all the action from home with the Northants Telegraph.
Corby Pole Fair 2022
Key Events
- Our reporters on the ground will be providing full coverage from 5am including the Charter reading, processions, and the legendary ‘stang’.
- Don’t forget your £1 toll unless you want to be placed in the stocks!
- You can send us your pictures on our Facebook page or over on Insta and we’ll do our best to include them in our coverage.
- We’ll be going LIVE on Facebook for all the important moments and will be updating here throughout the day.
The strange origins of Corby Pole Fair
Nobody is 100% sure of the origins of the Corby Pole Fair, which is steeped in legend. One theory is that is goes back to the13th century, while others believe it started in 1585 when Queen Elizabeth I was rescued from a bog by Corby villagers.
In the 17th century, Charles II granted the town a charter and that is when better records began to be kept.
The fair as we know it began with the Victorians and always takes place on a Friday. It merges traditions from Corby’s British, Viking and Scottish roots.
The Greasy Pole
One of the traditions, climbing the greasy pole, has been thwarted by health and safety this year after the committee couldn’t find an insurer.
But a ceremonial pole has been erected nonetheless in the Charter Field in the Old Village
The village’s oldest resident
Here’s our piece about Corby Village’s Oldest resident June, 85, who has taken part in five pole fairs and qualifies to be carried through the streets of the village in a chair, along with the mayor and the vicar. Her journey will begin 6am.
Corby Old Village resident June, 85, ready to be chaired at Pole Fair
This will be her fifth Pole Fair
The bells
In a few minutes you will hear the bells of St John The Baptist CE Church ring out to herald the start of the Pole Fair. There’s been a church here since at least the12th century. When the Domesday Book was written in 1086, there were just 11 households in Corby. There’s now a population of more than 60,000 - and it’s the fastest growing borough outside of London.
It’s a beautiful day for a Pole Fair
This beautiful arch features hand-crocheted flowers made by local people
The Programme
The organising committee has really pulled out the stops for this year’s Corby Pole Fair. After all it only happens once every 20 years! You can find a flip-book programme here
Corby Pole Fair 2022 programme | PDF to Flipbook
#CorbyPoleFair #NationalLotteryHeritageFund\nDesigned by Natalie Sherlock. PDF to flipbook converted using heyzine.com
The Charter Reading
Here’s this morning’s first Charter reading by Vicar of Corby Reverend Paul Frost. It started at 6am and hundreds of locals turned out to see it
Here’s mayor Taffy Chikoto, Reverend Paul Frost and the village’s oldest resident June Thomson being carried through the streets of the village - an old Pole Fair tradition.
How to get here
If you’re heading down here today, you can park at the far end of the Asda car park or in the Station Car Park. There is also parking in side streets not too far away and parking within about a 15 minute walk in the town centre.
All the Corby Pole Fair road closures for the June celebration
The Corby Pole Fair takes place on Friday, June 3, but some roads will close the day before
If you’re staying less than three hours, Tesco also has plenty of parking. Here’s a list of road closures.