Last updated 15:34, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

RAVENGLASS Charter has celebrated its 800th birthday.

Every year residents celebrate with the Charter Fair, now organised by the committee.

In 1900, after nearly 700 years, the fair was stopped but was revived in 1995.

Mike Harrington, member of the committee, said: “We are pleased with the charter fair. We had a very good day.

“Although heavy rain in the morning threatened to cast a damper on the celebrations, it was soon driven away by the energy of the morris dancers and the sun broke through.

“For next year’s event we hope to get some new ideas and some young people on the team. A lot of the older members of the committee are standing down so we are recruiting new members.

“We, the committee, are a group of villagers who organise the fair. Basically the charter of Ravenglass was a charter set up to allow the village to hold a market.”

For the event residents dressed up in old timely costumes and visitors were treated to a performance from Egremont Town Band. With this year’s proceeds, the committee donated £1,480 to Copeland causes.

That included £100 to the Gosforth and District First Responder Trust, £100 to Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, £150 to the Ravenglass Children’s Party and £150 to St Michael’s Church.

Since its revival in 1995 the fair has raised £20,000 for causes in the area.