A big thank you to all of those people who helped on the tea tent and to those who made cakes. Cake tins and trays are in the church please come and collect yours – Jennifer Harrisson. Church Warden.
Ideas for residents period costumes
Ladies/Girls
- Apron – a lace edged table/tray cloth
- Shawl – use a table cloth/scarf/lace curtain
- Long skirt and blouse
- Long skirt and blouse
- Mob Cap – circle of old sheet 24” diameter elasticated around about 1” to 2” from the edge and trimmed with lace
- Straw hat – a sun hat fastened over the crown with a scarf
- Footwear – flat shoes with buckles/laces, laced short boots
- Accessories – lace, brooches, pockets, basket
Men/Boys
- A smock – a plain night shirt will do or a collarless plain white shirt open at the neck with rolled up sleeves
- Scarf knotted at the neck
- Waistcoat
- Trousers – cord or tweed, tied at the knee with twine or trousers tucked into socks
- Flat cap, felt or straw hat, bowler or boater
- Footwear – walking boots, buckled shoes or wellies
- Accessories – pipe, hayfork, stick, large buckled belt
Street Fair Resident Information
What is it?
The Milton Abbas Street Fair is an 18thCentury themed fair to celebrate when the village was built, over 200 years ago by Joseph Damer, to house the people evicted from the old town of Middleton, which was in the grounds of Milton Abbey.
To create an 18thCentury festive atmosphere:
- homemade bunting is hung across and up and down The Street from hooks which are already installed just under the thatch.
- The Street is officially closed and free of all vehicles, residents move their cars to one of the temporary car parks for the day and the main street is closed to all traffic.
- the cottage front lawns provide the perfect setting for stalls, entertainment and craft demonstrations.
- fantastic eighteenth century costumes are worn by many residents, stallholders and some of the visitors also join in. (There are costumes available to hire in advance.)
Throughout the day there is entertainment for all, with bands, musicians, Morris dancers, artists and traditional craft demonstrations. There is a wonderful selection of stalls, crafts, children’s activities, local ales and ciders, tasty food and local produce. The Street Fair is a highlight on Dorset’s events calendar attracting thousands of visitors.
When is it?
Milton Abbas Street Fair is held every two years* on the nearest Saturday to St. Sampson’s day, the 28th July. King Athelstan granted the charter for the market and fair in the old town of Middleton held on the Feast of St Sampson, the patron saint of the town.
The next Street Fair will be on Saturday 26th July 2025.
How do I get in and out on the day?
There will be resident passes, so you can easily pass through the entrance gates. Please be aware that The Street will be closed to vehicles on the 26th July. Residents will be asked to move all vehicles from The Street to a nearby field in advance.
How is the money raised distributed?
Milton Abbas Street Fair Trust is a registered charity that distributes the profits of the Street Fair to local groups and organisations using a Beneficiary Grant system. It is a members’ organisation and all Milton Abbas residents are encouraged to join, for free.
Anyone can complete an application for funding to support a local community project or organisation. The Trustees have worked to make the application criteria and allocation transparent and welcome any feedback. Details of Trustee Minutes and allocations of previous projects supported are available on this website.
Who organises it?
The event is run entirely by volunteers, so you can really feel the strong community spirit. Anyone can try their hand at event organisation. If you wish to be involved in organising or volunteering, please contact the Organising Committee (see How to Find & Contact Us tab).