History - Fairmeadow

Originally probably left undeveloped because of periodic flooding by the Medway, Fairmeadow achieved notoriety in June 1557 when, during the persecution of Protestants by Queen Mary, Walter Appleby and his wife, Jean Manning (of Maidstone), Edmund and Catherine Allin (of Frittenden), Joan Bradbridge (of Staplehurst) and Elizabeth Lewis (Blind Bess) were all burned at the stake here.  Maidstone suffered greatly from the Marian persecutions, with only Canterbury in Kent seeing more executions.  This probably accounted for a puritan backlash in the town in succeeding decades.

In 1570 the town corporation decreed that the May, Midsummer and Autumn fairs be held here – these were originally mainly for trading in animals, agricultural surpluses and locally manufactured goods.  The recreation aspects of the fairs began to become dominant during the 19^th Century, particularly after the livestock market moved over the river to Lockmeadow in 1879. Traditional fairs continued to be held on Fairmeadow into the early 20^th Century until they too moved to Lockmeadow.

Fairmeadow was also the side of the town’s maypole and in 1597 was described as “a place to shoot in, and for other disport pastimes and recreations, as well as for the mustering and training of soldiers”.  In 1699 a tree-lined and railed public walk was laid out along the Medway in Fairmeadow – one of the first public walks on fashionable London lines in any provincial town.