FABULOUS DUNMOW FLITCH TRIALS START TOMORROW

Presenter at BBC Essex, Dave Monk will be in court tomorrow at the Great Dunmow Trials

  Weekend of 14th/15th  sees the  appearance of the Dunmow Flitch Trials, so very  famous around the world.  TV and radio stations will be visiting this most famous of English traditions.   A flitch of bacon is awarded to married couples from anywhere in the world if they can satisfy the Judge and Jury of six maidens and six bachelors that in 'twelvemonth and a day', they have 'not wisht themselves unmarried again'. Here's yours truly with the bridesmaids of 2008.

Numerous books refer to this 800-year-old Essex story. A reference to The Dunmow Flitch can even be found in The Wife of Bath's Tale within Chaucer's 14th century Canterbury Tales.  The Flitch Trials are held every 4 years in Great Dunmow, Essex, England. The town is located north-east of London, just off the A120 between the M11 at Stansted Airport and Colchester.  As a folklore writer and enthusiast, I know that it is important that this unique local tradition continues for centuries to come. So if you haven't seen or heard of the Dunmow Flitch Trials before, take a browse through their website and come along and watch the trials. Here is one of the earliest images used in my book FOLKLORE OF ESSEX published by The History Press. It shows the flitch winners of 1897.

This will be my fourth set of trials and I have the photos to prove it!  See you there!  For details of the weekend and ticket information go to: http://www.dunmowflitchtrials.co.uk/