Evergreen

130 EVERGREEN Autumn
Woodburytide Magic
PHILLIP HALLING
It was believed that the story
began more than 2,000 years
ago, when an Iron Age fort was
built on Woodbury Hill in Dorset.
A chapel was later built there beside
a deep well, from which it was said
came healing water. According to
legend, somewhere beneath its
depths was a cache of gold and it
became a place of pilgrimage.
MARK BENNETT
About 700 years ago, a traveller
sheltering after a storm hung some of
his belongings out to dry on bushes
beside the well. People passing by
noticed what he had done, and
asked if any of the cloth was for sale.
The traveller, much surprised, said
he would be glad of the offer, and
consequently sold all that he had.
The following year he came again to
the same place, and repeated the sale
of more goods.
People soon got to hear of him.
As the news spread, so others joined
in, until the event became a meeting
place of some renown. The hill is
situated close to the village of Bere
Regis, and at Woodburytide each
September hundreds of people flocked
there from all over the country. From
such humble beginnings Woodbury
Fair was born.