DUNMOW FLITCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 3

DUNMOW FLITCH

A ROMANTIC ORIGIN. The death, announced of Lord FitzWalter, recalls a tradition countenanced by accredited Essex historians, and still popular in the county, that the quaint custom of the Dunmow Flitch of Bacon originated in a romance of one of the Fitz Walters, or Fitzwalters, as spelt in old documents (writes H. C. Martin in the London “Daily Telegraph.”) Definite origin of the ceremony is; lost in antiquity. It is possible that it was brought, to England by followers of William the Conqueror, there being records that a similar one was observe d for (iOO years in Bretagne, al the: Abbey of St. Meleino, near Rennes. Also a. corresponding “custom of confession” of matrimonial felicity was long honoured at Wichnour, Staffordshire.

Tins Essex tradition is that the Flitch (or gammon) of Bacon presentation was established in the village of Little Dunmow, which adjoins the small market town of Great Dunmow, some time between the Conquest in 106 G and 1198; in which year the death took place of Walter Fitzwalter, a mutilated effigy of whom is borne upon a tomb in Little Dunmow Parish Church.

At the Domesday survey Little Dunmow belonged to Ralph Raynard, but the lands being forfeited by his son, they were given to Robert FitzGislebert, of the ancient. Earls of Clare, from whom the noble family of Fitzwalter descended. Robert’s posterity held this lordship as part of the barony of Fitzwalter for ten generations.

The tradition begins with a story of love at first sight by one of the young Fitzwalter nobles, when passing through the village of Little Dunmow. lie was attract-by the beauty of a poor Saxon peasant-girl, but feared to .. !1 ills family of U-e attachment. To give the story credibility, it has to be assumed that lie was not a member of the Fitzwalter family living at Dunmow, but was visiting relatives there when he became enamoured of the Saxon maiden. After returning to his home, he again visited Dunmow, this time disguised as a peasant. As such he .worked on the land, wooed and won the girl of his choice, and as husband and wife they were happy. Yearning to take his wife to the splendour of liis. Norman domain, but still fearing to do so unless fortified by the blessing of the Church, he went; with her to the Prior at Dunmow Priory, told his story, and each confessed that for “a twelvemonth and a day” each had repented not in thought and desire” as when they “joined hands in holy quire.” The Blessing was given, and Fitzwalter and his wife were about to hasten to his palatial home when a Priory servitor passed by, bearing a gammon of bacon for the larder. Seizing (ho gammon, the Prior gave it. to the couple as a token that their marriage had been blessed by him. The tomb of the Walter Fitzwalter who died in 119,8 is on the south side of .the church. Between two pillars on the north side of the choir is an alabaster figure of Matilda, the beautiful daughter of the second Walter Fitzwalter. It. is said that she was poisoned for refusing to gratify the illicit passion of King John. There are also records of other Fitzwalters having been buried in Little Dunmow church. In the Chartulary of Dunmow Priory, now a! die British Museum, there are records of three couples having been presented with gifts of bacon previous to tho suppression of the religious houses by King Henry VIII.