Sir William Hesketh, who later fought at the Battle of Crecy, obtained a charter dated 2nd November 1339 from Edward III giving him the right to hold a weekly market in Rufford on Fridays and an annual fair on the feast of St Philip and St James, that is the 1st May.

As the original grant became lost by the 16th century, confirmation of the charter was issued by Elizabeth I in 1573 and it can be seen at the Lancashire County Archives Office.

The right to hold the fair still exists and is believed to be held by the present Lord Hesketh.

The market was for the buying and selling of local produce and the fair was for was for the buying and selling of local produce and goods of a greater variety, by sellers from a wider area and of course entertainers would be present.

In 1975 the Village Hall Committee felt that this fair, which is some 600 years old and probably one of the oldest in England, could and should be celebrated again. It was decided that a fair should be held on 1 May 1976 on the site between Rufford Old Hall and Rufford New Hall, which was the original recreation ground of the Hesketh family.

The fair was held as planned involving local organisations and villagers following a traditional theme with entertainments of maypole dancing, Morris men, knights, country dancing and a live Punch and Judy Show. Also there were local craftsmen, basket weavers, shire horses, rare breeds, butter making, traction engines and fairground organs.

Local people dressed in medieval costume and together with a Town Crier, a Pieman and Jester history repeated itself.

It was estimated that over 10,000 people attended on this truly memorable day.

1977 was the Silver Jubilee Year of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and those celebrations occupied the village organisations and villagers.

In 1978 the May Day Bank Holiday came into being and the Medieval Fair & Market was revived again and was such a success that it continued annually until 1989.

The success of the event increased annually and entertainment was provided by such as the Sealed Knot Society, Lancashire Constabulary Mounted Section, Dog Shows, musical rides, marching bands and Cavaliers and Roundheads who tried hard to win their various battles. The list of things to see was indeed tremendous.

By the time of the last fair in 1989 the attendance had grown to about 15,000 when due to the loss of the Car Parking facility in the Rufford Hospital grounds it was decided that it was impossible to cope with the huge number of cars that were attending the annual event and 1989 was the last time the fair was held.

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