Dunmow Flitch Trials

The flitch of bacon. © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

The Dunmow Flitch Trials are a regular event which gives out a flitch of bacon as an award. A flitch is half a pig that has been cut lengthwise.

The trials are held on a Saturday in July every four years (typically a leap year) on a day announced by the organizers in the village of Great Dunmow, Essex, England.

The day of the trials is called “Flitch Day.”

Dunmow, Great and Little. Ordnance Survey map extract. Beechwood Photography / flickr / 2010.

Crier at the start of the Flitch Trial ceremonies, with vehicle loaned by an event sponsor. © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

#DunmowFlitchTrials

Website: https://www.dunmowflitchtrials.co.uk/

See also: Bacon, Bacon Day, Flitch of Bacon

The flitch trial participants

Couples present themselves before a judge and jury, hoping to qualify for a free flitch of the bacon.

Any couple from literally anywhere in the world can apply to enter the trials, but only five couples make the finals.

Multiple winning couples are possible; it’s not a competition between couples. There could be more than one winner of a flitch of bacon.

A couple has to have been married for at least a year and a day, and, must convince the jury that they have not regretted their marriage and that they would get married again.

A prospective couple being introduced to the crowd, along with the judge. © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

The settings

Flitch Day is a very festive day, with lots of amusement, entertainment and community involvement. A village fair is held at the same time.

A marquee is set up to act as the court in Talberts Ley park in Great Dunmow.

At the front there’s a stage, on which there’s a jury of 6 single men and 6 single women, plus a judge.

There are also four barristers (lawyers). Two act as devil’s advocates questioning why the couple deserves the bacon, and two defend the couples.

The Flitch Trials jury. Judge arriving in blue. © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

A couple being questioned by a barrister. © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

The flitch chair

Couple being paraded aloft in flitch chair (right) with the ceremonial flitch being paraded in front of them (left). © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

Couples who convince the jury and judge are carried aloft in the official Flitch Chair in a procession to the Town Hall, preceded in the procession by a ceremonial flitch of bacon. The chair bearers are dressed in traditional Essex smocks:

“There are two Flitch Chairs, each holding two person. Poles are slotted through the [base of] the chairs, to enable each to be carried on the shoulders of eight bearers. The chairs are extremely heavy, and this weight combined with the weight of the two people seated in each, no doubt accounts for some impressive bruises on the shoulders of the men who act as bearers… A Flitch of Bacon, suitably decorated with mock orange blossom and ribbons, is carried in a special frame before the successful claimants. … [they] are “Chaired” from Talberd’s Ley, by way of Star Lane, through Market Place to the road fronting the Old Town Hall. Here, on a platform, the Chaplain will administer the Oath, which they will swear whilst kneeling on pointed stones, and will then receive their award for marital bliss, a Flitch of Bacon.” ^[1]Dunmow Historical and Literary Society. The Dunmow Centenary Book 1894-1994. Great Dunmow, England. 1994. Page 229.

Couples have to swear to this oath in front of the Town hall, while kneeling on pointed stones.

“You shall swear by custom of confession,
If ever you made nuptial trangression,
Be you either married man or wife,
If you have brawls or contentious strife
Or otherwise, at bed or at board,
Offended each other in deed or word:
Or, since the parish-clerk said Amen,
You wish’d yourselves unmarried agen,
Or in a twelvemonth and a day,
Repented not in thought any way,
But continued true in thought and desire
As when you join’d hands in the quire.
If to these conditions, without all feare,
Of your own accord you will freely swear,
A whole gammon of bacon you shall receive,
And bear it hence with love and good leave;
For this is our custom at Dunmow well knowne,
Though the pleasure be ours, the bacon’s your own.”
— Source: Andrews, William. History of the Dunmow Flitch of Bacon Custom. London: William Tegg & Co. 1877. Page 31.

The flitch of bacon

A flitch of bacon, suitably displayed and decorated, ready for the day’s processions. © Sarah Sutton. 9 July 2016.

The winners don’t actually get the actual flitch that was paraded about on display before and after the trials. That one is cooked up the next day for a feast for the organizing committee. Instead, they get a voucher to present to a local butcher to get their flitch, which they receive in a week or so. ^[2]Lazell, Louise. The Dunmow Flitch: Essex couples can partake in a 900-year-old tradition to win a pig. Essex, England: Essex Live. 18 October 2019.

“For many years, until the closure of the Dunmow Flitch Bacon Factory, the flitches awarded to successful Claimants were the gift of the company, who, having taken their famous name from the custom, played their part in maintaining it in many ways, including providing the Bacon. Since the closure of the Dunmow Flitch Bacon Company factory, the organizing Committees have been fortunate in that local and national businesses connected with the bacon industry have come forward at the right time with offers of gifts of flitches, and so helped the Custom to continue.” ^[3]Dunmow Historical and Literary Society. The Dunmow Centenary Book 1894-1994. Great Dunmow, England. 1994. Pp 228-229.

The pork comes from local pigs. “The pigs aren’t actually butchered until after the trials are done, in case there are no winners.” ^[4]Lazell, Louise. The Dunmow Flitch: Essex couples can partake in a 900-year-old tradition to win a pig. Essex, England: Essex Live. 18 October 2019.

Another donor of bacon was Sweetland’s (closed October 2020.) ^[5]”I have supplied (donated) flitches of bacon and gammons to the famous Dunmow Flitch Trials which take place every leap year…” — About Sweetland’s. Accessed October 2021 at https://sweetlandsbutchers.co.uk/index.php/about-services/ ^[6]Durrant, Will. Fond farewell to Sweetland’s butchers after 69 years in the trade. Dunmow, Essex: Dunmow Broadcast. 20 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.dunmowbroadcast.co.uk/news/business/fond-farewell-to-sweetlands-after-69-years-8424888

Unsuccessful couples get a joint of gammon instead.

Recent dates

Saturday, 9 July 2022
Saturday, 9 July 2016
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Saturday, 10 July 2004
Saturday, 8 July 2000

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 event was postponed to 2021, and then postponed again to 2022.

Recipes

• Bacon and Cheese Bread
• Bacon and Cheese Clafoutis
• Bacon and Egg Farfalle
• Bacon and Egg Salad
• Bacon and Potato Pie
• Bacon & Onion Tart
• Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Patties
• Pea and Bacon Soup
• Penne with Bacon & Roasted Cauliflower
• Potato, Bacon and Mushroom Frittata
• Sour Cream and Bacon Potato Salad

History

Video showing a potted history:

Folk tradition dates the trials back to the early 1100s in the neighbouring village of Little Dunmow:

“A common claim of the origin of the Dunmow Flitch dates back to 1104 and the Augustinian Priory of Little Dunmow, founded by Lady Juga Baynard. Lord of the Manor Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife dressed themselves as humble folk and begged blessing of the Prior a year and a day after marriage. The Prior, impressed by their devotion, bestowed upon them a Flitch of Bacon. Upon revealing his true identity, Fitzwalter gave his land to the Priory on the condition a flitch should be awarded to any couple who could claim they were similarly devoted.” ^[7]The History of The Dunmow Flitch Trials. Accessed July 2021 at https://www.dunmowflitchtrials.co.uk/history/

As a result of the Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1535, the priory was abolished. Most of it was demolished, leaving only a small chapel, and its assets and lands pilfered. After this, the flitch awarding was taken over by local gentry:

“By 1701, the awarding of the Flitch had been taken over by the Lord of the Manor of Little Dunmow and the ‘Trial’ part was introduced. Eventually the Lords of the Manor lost interest in the ceremonial and any flitches claimed were awarded privately.” ^[8]Dunmow Historical and Literary Society. The Dunmow Centenary Book 1894-1994. Great Dunmow, England. 1994. Pp 225-226.

A newspaper writer in 1751 reports that a flitch award occurred in that year, but says that it is the first time in 50 years:

“It is remarkable that by the following Form and Order, it is 50 Years since the last was demanded; the Humour of the Ceremony being somewhat extraordinary, many Lodgings are already taken in that Place to see it.” — Derby, Derbyshire, England: Derby Mercury. Friday, 7th June 1751. Page 2, col. 2.

The flitch-receiving couple were William and Jane Parsley.

Derby Mercury 1751 Flitch Trials. Click to enlarge.

In 1832, a couple tried to claim it from the current Lord of the Manor at the time in Little Dunmow (a Mr George Wade) but he refused to take part in the tradition.

“Dunmow Flitch of Bacon. Mr. [Joshua] Vines, and his amicable lady, have paid a second visit to the Steward of the Manor of Little Dunmow Priory, George Wade, Esq., in order to persevere in their application for the gift of a flitch of bacon, to which, by the custom of that manor, they claim title, being qualified to take the oath required, as concerns their quiet and peaceable, and tender and loving cohabitation, for the space of one year and a day. It does not appear, however, that the respectable steward feels so warm a desire to renew this, what may be termed jocular, but at the same time idle, custom, which on former occasions was the means of bringing together a large concourse of persons, some of them but of indifferent character, who destroyed the fences in the neighbourhood, and did considerable mischief in other respects, without leaving the trace of any substantial benefit as a compensation for the injuries inflicted upon the occupiers in the vicinity. To meet this objection, Mr. Vines offered, we are told, an indemnity to the amount of £50; still some obstacles, it seems, require to be removed, and the happy pair have returned to Reading, the place of their residence, to consult their solicitor, as to the best means of enforcing their claim. The last person to receive the bacon in public was John Shakeshanks, a woolcomber, and Ann, his wife, of Weathersfield, 20th June 1751. Mr. Burgoyne, it is said, also received it, but not in public. (We have some interesting anecdotes of Mr. Joshua Vines, which shall be given in a future number.)” — Dunmow Flitch of Bacon. Chelmsford, Essex: Chelmsford Chronicle. Friday, 26 October 1832. Page 2, col. 5.

[Ed: note here that it says the June 1751 couple were John and Ann Shakeshanks, whereas the June 1751 paper cited immediately above gives the couple’s names as William and Jane Parsley. Reconciling this is a matter for local historians.]

Chelmsford Chronicle 1832

A revival in interest in the Flitch Trials happened in the 1850s, but neighbouring Great Dunmow took over, with the flitch begin given out by civic authorities:

“In 1855 Harrison Ainsworth, the Victorian novelist, decided to revive the Flitch Trials as an entirely civic event, quite separate from the Church or the Lord of the Manor. The Trials were staged in Great Dunmow and attracted visitors from the surrounding towns and villages and from as far afield as London. There were sports, amusements, and an elaborate procession; unfortunately, the weather was wet. The Bishop’s Stortford to Braintree Railway line was opened in February 1869 and on Monday 16 August that year a special excursion train ran from Stratford… to Dunmow for the Festival of the Flitch of Bacon… Attractions included a Grand Procession, a Tournament by Knights in Armour on horse and foot, Clowns, Bicycle Race, Novel Cricket Match, Maypole Dance, Parisian Circus, Cremorne Punch and Judy, the Popular Burlesque entitled Bluebeard (with notable eminent artists), Wonderful Fire King (eating hot lead, biting red-hot iron) and Fireworks.” ^[9]Dunmow Historical and Literary Society. The Dunmow Centenary Book 1894-1994. Great Dunmow, England. 1994. Pp 225-226.

Since Victorian Times, the trials have been held regularly, except for during WW1 and WW2:

“The Flitch trials have been held at regular intervals since these times, except for the War Years, following a similar pattern of Trials, exhibitions, and entertainments… The modern Trials of the Claimants of the Dunmow Flitch, to give the custom the proper title, are held at four-yearly intervals — not because of any historic precedent, but because such an interval suits the situation nicely (and can be said to give the organisers time to recover from the most recent Trials before building up strength enough to participate in the next.)” ^[10]Dunmow Historical and Literary Society. The Dunmow Centenary Book 1894-1994. Great Dunmow, England. 1994. Pp 225-226.

Rev. and Mrs Jenkins and Mr. and Mrs. Noakes being processed in Flitch chairs, 1905. In L’Illustration, September 1905. Public Domain

2012 edition

The original Flitch Chair dating back to the Middle Ages is still extant and preserved in Little Dunmow priory; replica replacements are used in modern day.

The original pointed stones that couples knelt on for the oath were lost to time during the interval when the tradition had faded; new replacement ones are now used. ^[11]”Over the following years, the custom lapsed. The pointed stones upon which the couples knelt were carried away and the carved oak carrying chair is preserved in Little Dunmow Priory.” The History of The Dunmow Flitch Trials. Accessed July 2021 at https://www.dunmowflitchtrials.co.uk/history/ ^[12]”Part of the trial requires reading out the Flitch Oath whilst kneeling on pointed stones. Helen said these sharp stones are usually collected from a garden nearby.” Lazell, Louise. The Dunmow Flitch: Essex couples can partake in a 900-year-old tradition to win a pig. Essex, England: Essex Live. 18 October 2019.

Flitch Trials have possibly been held in other locations in England ^[13]Such as  Wychnor Hall near Lichfield, Staffordshire and other countries such as Germany, and in medieval France ^[14]See: Shaver, Chester L. “A Mediaeval French Analogue to the Dunmow Flitch.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 50, no. 5, 1935, pp. 322–325. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2912517. but Dunmow is the only location where it has survived.

Literature & Lore

The Flitch of bacon trial at Dunmow is mentioned in Piers Plowman, c. 1370–90.

“And though thei do hem to Dunmowe,
But if the devel helpe,
To folwen after the flicche,
Fecche thei it nevere;
And but thi bothe be for-swore,
That bacon thei tyne.”

— Langland, William. The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman. Wright, Thomas, Editor. London: Reeves and Turner. 1887. Passus nonus de visione, 5515.

The trials are next mentioned in The Wife of Bath’s Prologue by Geoffrey Chaucer (circa 1405 to 1410):

217 The bacon was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
The bacon was not fetched for them, I believe,
218 That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe.
That some men have in Essex at Dunmowe
418 And yet in bacon hadde I nevere delit.
And yet in bacon (old meat) I never had delight.
419 That made me that evere I wolde hem chide,
That made me so that I would always scold them,
420 For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside,
For though the pope had sat beside them,
421 I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord,
I would not spare them at their own table.

Source: Benson, Larry D. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale. An Interlinear Translation. The Riverside Chaucer, Houghton Mifflin Company. 1984. https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/teachslf/wbt-par.htm

In January 1779, a two-act play called “The Flitch of Bacon; a comic opera, in two acts” hit the stage in London and was very popular. ^[15]Dublin Evening Post, Thursday, 23 January 1979, Page 1, col. 2. It was written by the Reverend Henry Bate and music composer William Shield.

“Ye good men and wives,
Who have lov’d all your lives,
And whose Wows have at no time been shaken,
Now come and draw near,
With your consciences clear,
And demand a huge Flitch of our Bacon!
Chorus.
Ye good men, &c.
Since a year and a day
Have in love roll’d away,
And an oath of that love has been taken,
On the sharp-pointed stones,
With your bare marrow-bones,
You have won our fam’d Priory Bacon.”
— Bate, Henry. The Flitch of Bacon. Act 2. London, England: T. Evans, 1779. Page 24.

In 1854, William Harrison Ainsworth published the novel, “The Custom of Dunmow: a Tale of English Home”, about a man who went through several different wives trying to find the right woman for him.

In 1952, the film “Made in Heaven” premiered, telling the story of a married couple trying to win a flitch at Dunmow. It starred David Tomlinson and Petula Clark.

Ilford Flitch Trials 1920s and 1930s

The town of Ilford, Essex, also held a Flitch trial in the 1920s and 1930s which they confusing called “Dunmow Flitch Trials”, but ended theirs when WW2 started, and never restarted it.

1926 Ilford

1928 Ilford

1930 Ilford

Further reading

Ainsworth, William Harrison. The Custom of Dunmow: a Tale of English Home (1892 edition) 

Andrews, William. History of the Dunmow Flitch of Bacon Custom. London: William Tegg & Co. 1877. 

Bate, Reverend Henry and Willian Shield. “The Flitch of Bacon; a comic opera.” 

BBC Archive: 1949 revival of Dunmow Flitch Trials for first time since WW2.

Shaver, Chester L. “A Mediaeval French Analogue to the Dunmow Flitch.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 50, no. 5, 1935, pp. 322–325.

Sources

Andrews, William. History of the Dunmow Flitch of Bacon Custom. London: William Tegg & Co. 1877

Lazell, Louise. The Dunmow Flitch: Essex couples can partake in a 900-year-old tradition to win a pig. Essex, England: Essex Live. 18 October 2019.

Dunmow Historical and Literary Society. The Dunmow Centenary Book 1894-1994. Great Dunmow, England. 1994.

Shaver, Chester L. “A Mediaeval French Analogue to the Dunmow Flitch.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 50, no. 5, 1935, pp. 322–325.