Time Honoured Mop Fair at Stratford-on-Avon

Hungry punters marvel at a meaty Midlands tradition as the 'Mop' rolls into town.

The star attraction of Stratford's annual Mop fair was the spectacular oxen spit-roast, a meaty marvel which rather hogs the limelight in this Gaumont Graphic newsreel. The cameraman was clearly mesmerised by the spinning steaming meat, expertly carved and plated-up for a hungry crowd. Vegetarians might prefer the final shot of punters enjoying traditional rides in the tightly-packed town centre.

Dating back to the 1300s, the 'Mop' was originally a hiring fair, where farm-hands and domestic labourers could look for work. Now a typical funfair and a beloved Midlands tradition, it continues to attract a thronging crowd to Stratford each year around the 12th of October.