THE BAILIFFS OF THE Rowell Fair
This page provides a complete list of the
Rowell Fair Bailiffs
– or to give them their official title:
Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor
In the history of Rowell Fair there are several factors that have been consistent throughout the years, the Lord of the Manor, the Royal Charters of King John and King James the First, the Bailiffs to the Lord of the Manor, the Proclamation Ceremony, and the Fair, in its various guises.
Here, we are going to look at what we know about this fine body of men who have carried out the role of Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor of Rowell. If you have more information or unique photographs/images on any of the Bailiffs, please get in contact with us here at the Society.
You can read more HERE on this website about the
role of the Bailiff written back in 2020 by our very own Frank York
(the current Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor)
We see this page as another of those that is always growing! ‘Work in Progress’, if you prefer. With YOUR help we would like to add to this page and would love you to share with us your photographs of our Bailiffs, past and present, for our online audience that extends around the globe – thank-you!
Share your images with us HERE
On the front of the Conservative Club in Rothwell, Northamptonshire there is a commemorative plaque inscribed with the names and dates of office for the 10 Bailiffs that we know the details of – the first being Albert York, however, it is known that a Mr Cook and Mr Higgins preceded them.
If you can provide any information about
Bailiffs Mr Cook and Mr Higgins, drop us a line HERE. Thanks!
Bailiffs, Past and Present
Albert York 1861-1865
Albert York was a shoe worker from Rowell who also served as a church warden at the Parish Church. He was the Great, Great, Great Grandfather of our current Bailiff, Frank York
Isaac Willis 1865-1912
Isaac Willis was the longest serving of the known Bailiffs. At various times in his life, he lived in Brixworth, Rowell and Northampton. At one point in his life, he was a landlord of the Red Lion public house. He retired from his role of Bailiff just a few months before his death at the age of 80.
He was also a relative of the current Bailiff being his Great, Great, Great Uncle.
Joseph Hall 1913-1919
Joseph Hall was the first of 3 generations of the Hall family to hold the office of Bailiff. Although his tenure was short, he had the task of maintaining the Fair and upholding the Charters through the dark days of World War One.
It should be noted that Joseph arranged for a set of galloping horses, owned by the Sheppard family, to be based in Rowell for the duration of the war.
Lawson Austin 1920-1921
No information is currently known about Lawson Austin. If you can help, please contact the Society.
Below are two photographs on postcards from our collection. Can you help with the name of the Bailiff and the year? We think early 1900s, so they could be either Joseph Hall or Lawson Austin.
Reginald Hall 1922-1957
The second member of the Hall family to serve as Bailiff, and the second longest serving Bailiff on record.
Like his father before him, he had the job of maintaining the fair and Charter through war years. It is notable that during this time, with many of the menfolk of the town serving King and Country, that Reg utilised the female population of the town to serve as his Halbardiers, whether there was any ‘rough and tumble’ (as per the tradition) is not known.
Tom Johnson 1958-1963
Tom took over from Reg Hall and carried out the duties of Bailiff until Norman Hall was ready to take on the job.
Tom worked in the family’s business and the family have played a major part in keeping the Charter Fair and its tradition going, with THREE generations of the family holding the post of President of the Rowell Fair Society.
Norman Hall 1964-1991
“Our Norm” was reluctant to take on the post of Bailiff, but he did so at a time of decline in the popularity of the Fair and Proclamation. Because of this he organised a meeting of supporters of the Fair and its traditions, and the Rowell Fair Society was formed, with Norman becoming its first Chairman. This heralded a resurgence in popularity which continues to this day.
Norman worked locally for Ball’s Foundry as a painter, and he was greatly supported by his wife Iris in the organisation of the Fair.
(Derek Newman in background holding the Bailiff’s Staff)
Can you help with the year in the photograph above? We believe it was the first year that the Fair used Guilford Farm as the assembly point (previously, it was Johnson’s Yard on Kettering Road)
(The year the Horse was late!!) – Year unknown
Towards the end of his tenure as Bailiff, his deputy Bob Denton carried out many of the Proclamation ceremonies, whilst Norman still organised the Fair.
Robert Denton (BEM) 1992-2014
(Frank/Sue. This date isn’t the same as the date on the plaque – can we explain that away or can we safely ignore it?)
Affectionately known as “Bob the Bailiff” Bob Denton had been supporting his predecessor for many years and performed the Proclamation duties for his first time in 1971, due to Norman’s ill health. Rothwell born and bred Bob had a very busy life, and was a schoolteacher and then Headmaster of Walgrave School, Town Councillor, Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Special Constabulary amongst other accomplishments.
His many achievements in life earnt him the award of the British Empire Medal. Perhaps the biggest memory most people will have of Bob’s tenure will be when the saddle slipped, and Bob fell to the floor at the first reading of the Charter. Bob was remounted on the horse at the second reading and continued thereafter.
Alan Mills 2015-2016
Alan Mills was appointed deputy Bailiff following Bob Denton’s fall from the horse, taking over in his own right in 2015. Alan moved to Rowell from the nearby village of Broughton in the 1990s, bringing his stone-masonry business with him. Prior to his career as a stonemason, Alan had chart success with the rockabilly band “Coast to Coast”and music continued to play a large part in his life on top of his business, Bailiff and position of Town and Borough Councillor. Read more about the Band HERE.
During his term as Bailiff Alan was suffering with a terminal illness, but he carried out his duties with tremendous strength and courage.
Our Current Bailiff
Frank York 2017 – Present Day
Frank is a born and bred Rowellian who spent his childhood years living within sight of the annual fair. On leaving school he spent 23 years in the Army followed by a few years working in civil engineering before spending a further 18 years back in uniform working with the cadet force at Oundle School. He took early retirement to spend more time on his two main passions in life, fairgrounds, and wildlife. His interest in fairgrounds had seen Frank hold the position of Secretary of the Fairground Association of Great Britain, a position he gave up on his appointment as Bailiff.
His interest in wildlife had seen him volunteering at both Twycross and Hamerton Zoos before becoming a volunteer ranger with the Wildlife Trust at the Summer Leys Nature Reserve near Wellingborough, where his work earned him the Trust’s Jon (or is it John??) Smith Award for 2024.
Despite the fair being cancelled due to COVID, Frank upheld the Charters by still reading the Charter at 6 o’clock on the Monday morning, strictly following the COVID regulations in force at the time.
Don’t forget that you can read more HERE on this website about the
role of the Bailiff written by our very own Frank York, Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor.
© Photos used, courtesy of the RFS website, the York Family Collection and Nev Eastland (Committee Member, in the 1970s and author of Rowellian Newsletter)
If you have any information about any of our Bailiffs that’s not mentioned above, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line HERE and we’ll be in touch. Thank-you from all of us at the Rowell Fair Society.
The Rowell Fair Society works to ensure the heritage and traditions of the Rowell Fair, including our unique Proclamation, are not lost. We are a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who rely heavily on financial support through membership subscriptions, donations, fundraising and the occasional grant. If you have a passion for our traditions (whether you are local or global) and would like to support us, please visit our dedicated page. Thank-you!
