Fairfield House
Fairfield Road
This house, and the road it stands in, take their name from a nearby field which was the site for New Romney's annual Sheep Fair. Traditionally, on 21st August each year, sheep from across the Marsh were brought to market here. On the day after the stock fair a general fair was held.
The rich soils of the Marsh produced vast acres of good grazing land. In the bleak, wind-swept environment there developed a hardy breed, which became world-famous. "Romneys" were referred to in the Domesday Book and were later exported all over the world. Such was the importance of the huge Marsh flocks that, upon the outbreak of World War II, they were evacuated before the people!
But in the post-war era much of the former grazing land has been converted to arable use and now grows crops such as oilseed rape. The New Romney Sheep Fair has passed into history.
Links
Romney Sheep
Fairfield House
