Loyal Locals

Petra Hornsby discovers why loyalty in relationships and on the high street is particularly rewarding for the residents of Great Dunmow

GREAT DUNMOW has much in common with many other small towns across Essex. Enveloped by beautiful countryside, it nestles in its rural location yet attracts many commuting residents thanks to frequent rail services into London.

The town sits on the River Chelmer and was once home to the Romans and then the Saxons before finding prosperity during the Middle Ages when it was granted a market charter by the king. It has a rich and unique history which visitors to the town can learn about in some detail by visiting the Maltings Museum located on the High Street.

Every leap year, Great Dunmow observes a tradition that started back in 1104 and which puts marital harmony to the test, offering a rather meaty prize for the winners. Reginald Fitzwalter, who was Lord of the Manor, dressed up as a peasant and, with his wife similarly attired, paid a visit to the priory of Little Dunmow requesting the prior bless their union of one year and a day. The prior was so impressed by their apparent devotion to each other that he did indeed bless their marriage and, as a gift, gave them a flitch, or half a pig. Having revealed his true identity, Lord Fitzwalter then gave his land to the priory on the promise that every year a couple displaying equal harmony would be rewarded in the same way.

As recorded in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale, The Flitch Trials (as they became known) gained notoriety across the country. Records of the names of winners began in 1445, with Richard Wright and his wife from Norwich bagging the bacon.