Bristol is famous for its role as a trading city for many centuries, but it is staggering just how far their contacts reached. In a will or a carver in the late 18th century, was a list of the different types of stone, including from Sienna, Carrera, Danzig as well as the many local quarries. The huge St James’ fair attracted visitors from across Europe, as I have described in a few earlier posts, but this is a real gem:
There is also an extraordinary anecdote reported in a letter to Felix Farley’s Journal 25 August 1821 concerning the famous fair entertainer Maddox, who entertained on his wire. Local magnate C J Harford related “In the year 1786 I was at Moscow, and met in a large company a Mr Maddox, who, having 6 horses to his carriage, I knew must have the rank of Brigadier-general; being introduced as coming from Bristol he seemed much delighted. ‘Pray, sir,’ said he, ‘can you inform me is St James’ fair still kept up? And is old Seward the trumpeter alive?’ Much surprised at these questions, I assured him St James’ fair would take place the next Friday (as it was the last week in August this took place), and I had seen old Seward trumpeting before the Sheriffs the March preceding. ‘And now, Mr Maddox, allow me to inquire how you could know anything of St James’ fair? Or be interested about old Seward?’ ‘Sir,’ replied Mr Maddox, ‘I am exceedingly pleased at what you tell me; many a time have I acted Punch and played on the salt-box in the gallery at the corner of Silver –Street, I think you call it; and Seward is my uncle, who brought me up from a child.’ ‘By your name, Mr Maddox,’ I replied, ‘I suppose you are some relation of the famous Tom Maddox, the rope dancer, who with all his family and troupe, except one infant that floated ashore in the cradle were lost (about 1757) in a packet off Holyhead?’ ‘Mr Harford, I’m that child, my uncle Seward bred me up, and here you find me, director of the opera or theatre and keeping a Vauxhall at Moscow.’ I frequently dined with this extraordinary character, who always spoke with pleasure of St James’ fair.’
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