St Giles’ Fair is set to return to Oxford on Monday 09, and Tuesday 10 September 2004, from 11.00am to 11.00pm on both days. The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Mike Rowley, will open the fair by ceremonially ringing a bell and being the first to take a ride.
The fair is one of the greatest and most prestigious in the country. The fair dates back to 1625 when it was a parish festival to celebrate the feast of the patron saint St Giles, and is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles’ Day (01 September).
In the 18th century, it was a toy fair. Then, in the early 19th century, it was a general children’s fair.
The funfair grew during mid and late Victorian times when improved means of transport meant that larger numbers of people could be brought into the city to attend the festivities. It was also when the forerunners of today’s rides were first developed following advances in mechanical engineering.
Now run by Oxford City Council, the St Giles’ fair is probably the largest of its kind in Europe, taking up all of St Giles’, even Magdalen Street by Elliston and Cavell’s right up to and beyond the War Memorial, at the meeting of the Woodstock and Banbury roads.
Road closures
There will be road closures and diversions around the area from 8.00am on Sunday, 08 to 8.00am on Wednesday, 11 September, to manage vehicles and the safety of pedestrians for the event.
- Banbury Road A4165: Closed from its junction with Parks Road to its junction with Keble Road, except the east side of Banbury Road for access and parking for vehicles exhibiting a St. Giles Fair parking permit.
- Beaumont Street (from St John Street to St Giles): The Pay & Display parking (*d); and Goods vehicle loading bays (*c) will be suspended, except on the south side where parking is permitted for taxis 5 metres from Gloucester Street for 10 metres, and parking also allowed for vehicles exhibiting a St Giles Fair parking permit.
- Bevington Road: Closed at its junction with Woodstock Road;
- Keble Road: Closed except parking permitted for fairground vehicles exhibiting a permit; Residents permit parking (*c) suspended.
- St. Giles: Closed; Pay and Display parking (*d) and Taxi rank suspended;
- Magdalen Street East and West: Closed;
- Pusey Street: Closed from its junction with St Giles to its junction with St John Street – access only to frontages.
- Woodstock Road A4144: Closed from St Giles to Observatory Street, except parking permitted on the east side between Observatory Street and The Royal Oak for Public House for fairground vehicles exhibiting a permit.
- Little Clarendon Street: Closed for its entire length. Access to premises only from Walton Street. This road will be used as an access/staging area for emergency services. The 30-minute permitted parking (*c) and the marked goods vehicle loading bays (*c); and the one-way restriction (*a) will also be suspended.
- Parks Road: Traffic emerging into Banbury Road will only be able to turn right (northwards) away from the city.
- Broad Street: Bus and taxi services will be transferred from St Giles, which will involve lowering the No Access bollards (*a). The goods vehicle loading bays (*c) and Street Traders bay on the south side will also be suspended.
The alternative City through-route for traffic is via Worcester Street, Walton Street, Kingston Road, St.Margarets Road and vice versa.
The St Giles’ Fair has been a fixture in the Oxford calendar for centuries and is one of the few events that really does have something for everyone.
