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| Legend
has it that Dame Heffle would release a cuckoo from a basket at the
show to denote the arrival of Spring. The designated date was 14 April
but in later years this date varied. We have chosen the last Saturday
in April. |
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The
Heffle Cuckoo Fair dates back to 1315 when the Bishop of Chichester
obtained a grant from Edward II for an annual fair and a weekly market
to commemorate St Richard, a former Bishop of Chichester. It was a livestock
trading show and produce market with all the accompanying fun fair events. The last of these traditional Cuckoo Fairs was held in Cade Street in 1914, though in some recent years it was held as a craft fair and procession in Heathfield town. The fair was originally centred at Cade Street, just outside Heathfield village (then known as Heffle). Nearly 100 years on in 2009 the Fair returned to its roots, thanks to the Friends of Demelza. |
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All proceeds to go to Demelza Hospice Care for Children: |
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