Goldsithney Charter Fayre - The Folklore behind the fayre
Every part of Cornwall seems to have a legend or a piece of folklore attached to it. In the beautiful village of Goldsithney near St Michael Mount, you do not have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find this recollection the Goldsithney Fair and Glove.
This following article is taken from the Cornish Folklore classic 'Popular Romances of the West of England by Robert Hunt'
ON the 5th of August, St James's day (old style), a fayre is held here, which was originally held in the Church-town of Sithney near Helston. In olden time, the good St Perran the Little gave to the wrestlers in his parish a glove as the prize, and the winner of the glove was permitted to collect the market toll on the day of the feast, and to appropriate the money to his own use.
The winner of the glove lived in the Church-town of Sithney, and for long long years the right of holding the fair remained undisputed. At length the miners of Goldsithney resolved to contest the prize, and they won it, since which time the fair has been held in that village, they paying to the poor of the parish of Sithney one shilling as compensation. Gilbert remarks, The displaying of a glove at fairs is an ancient and widely-extended custom. Mr Lysons says it is continued at Chester. The editor has seen a large ornamented glove over the guildhall at Exeter during the fairs."
Taken from Popular Romances of the West of England by Robert Hunt
March 1881 [a] vol. iii. p. 309 By Robert Hunt