Dunmow gears up for Flitch Trials

By jperfect

IT should be a booming few weeks for Dunmow as the town welcomes an invasion of thousands of visitors for the ancient Flitch Trials.

Hotels are already fully booked, pubs and restaurants are predicting a roaring trade, and the profile of the town will once again be thrust into the international arena.

It's a major boost to the town's economy in light of the current credit crunch.

Chamber of trade chairman Mike Perry said: “More than 5,000 people will be coming into the town. It is unique and something that is very good for the pub and restaurant trade.”

Five couples, including a husband and wife from the USA, will line up amid the pageantry to put their marriage to the test and bring home the bacon.

The traditional four-yearly trials have put Dunmow firmly on the world map with tourists.

“It is a special event known all over the world. The Japanese have done a television programme about it and the Americans have always enthused. People have tried to copy it but never succeeded,” said Mr Perry.

Manager of the 31-bedroom 17th century Saracen's Head, Rod Spring, said: “We are fully booked up for the weekend and expect to be very busy.”

Maria DoCarno, manager of the 91-room Travelodge Hotel, said: “The Dunmow Flitch is a major event for Dunmow and we have customers coming from across the UK to attend the trials.”

Tickets have been sold to Sweden, France, Germany and the United States for the five mock court trials on July 12.

The trials, which date back to the 12th century, are held in a marquee at Talberds Ley, behind Doctors Pond every four years.

Couples have to convince a jury of “six maidens and six bachelors” they have not regretted being married for a year and a day.

Successful couples are then carried in the ancient Flitch chair to the Market Place where they take an oath kneeling on pointed stones before being rewarded with a side of bacon.

Entrants who fail to convince the court must walk behind the empty chair to the Market Place, consoled with a prize of a gammon.

The identity of those going to trial will be secret until the day, but they will have to put their marriage in the spotlight before a crowd of almost 700 and TV crews.