Mayfair in London - A Brief History
Author: Devinder Pate

Mayfair has been a buzzing and constantly popular location
in London, due to it's Central Location, and particularly
due to it's proximity to the adjacent Hyde Park.

The name Mayfair (May Fayre) has it's roots in the annual
fair that was held in May, that moved from busy Haymarket
and Piccadilly to these quiet streets especially around
Curzon Street and Shepherd Market.

The fair took place for two weeks every May, until 1708
when it was stopped by the intervention of the local
residents.

They were unhappy with the behaviour of the revellers.
Their complaints included Drunken Behaviour, Prostitution &
Fornication, Gambling and of course Lewdness was rife.

Other attractions included Fire-Eaters, Prize Fighting,
Jugglers and Trinkets for sale.

In 1738 Edward Shepherd who had built a cattle market (and
many houses) in Mayfair' Shepherd Market area, reinstated
the May Fayre.

His efforts only lasted 12 years however, as regrettably in
1750 the Fayre was shut down again as too many things went
wrong, and the public scandal had it's rapid effect.

Well, you know all about Newton's Law of Motion, every
action has an equal and opposite reaction !

A little of the May Spirit (two kinds !) lingers in Mayfair
today - as May Day Celebrations on the first Sunday in May
still take place in Shepherd Market.

Most of the Mayfair area was built from around 1660 to 1760
consisting of six great estates. Only the Grosvenor Estate
still exists today - owned privately by the Duke of
Westminster, the richest man in the UK, who is of course a
blood relative of Her Royal Majesty The Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II herself still owns a large swathe of the
West End of London in her varied Portfolio.

Thanks to Mayfair's expansion in the 18th Century, the
Aristocracy moved there, away from the then very popular
and fashionable areas of Covent Garden and Soho.

Mayfair remains extremely fashionable today and is mostly
leased by foreign companies and wealthy Private Individuals
from all countries on the globe.

A strong accent that you will often hear in Mayfair's Pubs
today is the American drawl.

Now that we are talking about Pubs, a few kind old words
are in order from The Temperance Association -

"Dare to say 'No' when you're tempted to drink,

Pause for a moment, my brave boy, and think ---

Think of the Wrecks upon life's ocean tossed

For answering 'Yes' without counting the cost"

Nowadays of course this also applies to Ladies, as they
drink an equal amount to Men (or more on many occasions) as
is clearly visible on any given day or night in Mayfair and
elsewhere.

Do you fancy a drink in one of Mayfair's many Old Public
Houses ?


About the Author:

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