Cordelleville : The funfair

Little Cordelleville had its little chapel, its little cemetery and, up until the 60s i it had its funfair, at the beginning of August. It took place on the feast of St Sauveur and all the inhabitants of Clères looked forward to it. This funfair already existed at the very beginning of the 20th century. Mass was celebrated in the chapel, followed by the blessing of bread. There were lots of attractions for young and old; a wooden horse carousel, which was pushed around by a real horse in the middle, accompanied by a barrel-organ, Fauvel and Larson lotteries, two rifle ranges and games for the children. Then, in the evening, it was the village ball.

At the beginning of the 20th century the fair was held at Mr et Mme Poupart’s café-grocery, haberdashery, crockery and tobacco shop. The musicians rode in a wheat-sheaf wagon decorated with leaves and lanterns. To finish, a fire-work display was given in the fields opposite.

In 1952 the Paris-Normandie newspaper gave the programme of the funfair, held on August 10th; ‘at 10.45 in the charming little chapel, sung mass; in the afternoon, vespers; at 4 pm, in the outbuildings of the Collin café, grand concert by the Clères brass band conducted by Mr. Plichon; various games for children; 8.30 pm, grand public ball, free entry.

The last St Sauveur fair was held in 1970, as indicated in the following newspaper article:

This was perhaps the last Saint-Sauveur fair in the hamlet of Cordelleville

‘Was last Sunday perhaps the last chance to see the St Sauveur fair in the hamlet of St Sauveur?

More than 60 years ago this fair was a sort of big family reunion. Since then, things have really changed and M. Albert Feugère, president of the fairs committee and Messieurs Varin and Leboucher are well aware. The finances are no longer sufficient and they thus very much fear that they will be unable to organise another fair next year’. A tradition that has therefore come to an end.

Neverthelesss, the sun was shining and there were a lot of people milling around the stands. There was of course the famous clay-pigeon shoot competition which lasted all day. The young especially were looking forward to dancing slows at the grand ball in the evening’.