The Exhibition of the Weyhill Mermaid
Weyhill Fair, with its rich history dating back to possibly the 11th century, has been the epicentre of numerous tales and events. However, amongst the tales of sheep trades and spouse sales in this long-lasting Hampshire fair, one peculiar event stands out – the exhibition of the Weyhill Mermaid in 1811.
Colonel Peter Hawker, an esteemed figure and accomplished hunter of his time, chronicled in his diary an unusual spectacle that year. He wrote: "Went to Weyhill Fair, where the principal curiosity was a creature (shown under the name of a mermaid) that was caught and brought alive from the Southampton river." What did the man see? The mystery looks likely to never be resolved.
The 19th century was a time of fascination with oddities, with exhibitions showcasing the bizarre and the unexplained attracting vast audiences. The allure of seeing a real-life mermaid would have drawn throngs to Weyhill, ensuring a successful and lucrative event for the exhibitors. But was this mermaid real, or merely a clever deception?
Considering Hawker's observation, it's possible that the creature was indeed some aquatic animal, potentially misidentified or purposefully presented as a mermaid to cash in on the public's fascination. Over the years, various "mermaids" displayed around the world have turned out to be skilfully crafted hoaxes, often made from the bodies of monkeys sewn onto fish tails.
Another strange problem with the report is that Southampton doesn't even have a river! The closest thing to 'the Southampton River' is 'Southampton Water', which is a tidal estuary, filled with brackish water. Two rivers do flow into Southampton Water - the River Test and River Itchen. Perhaps the mermaid came from there instead?
Considering Hawker's expertise in identifying animals, his choice of words suggests scepticism. Labelling it a 'creature shown under the name of a mermaid' hints at his suspicions about its authenticity as a true mermaid.
Yet, the possibility remains that it could have been a real-life mermaid, or some other rarely seen marine creature, unfamiliar to the general populace and thus easy to market as a mermaid. Anomalies of nature, such as the elusive oarfish or some deformed aquatic creatures, might have been mistaken for mermaids by the uninformed.
Regardless of its true identity, the Weyhill Mermaid adds a layer of mystery and allure to the storied history of Weyhill Fair. From the trade of up to 100,000 sheep in a day to the colourful Pleasure Fair events, such as the infamous sale of a wife for 20 shillings and a Newfoundland dog (an event that perhaps inspired Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'), Weyhill has never been short of tales to captivate.
Today, the original fairground has transformed into the "Weyhill Fair Ground" craft centre, and the last fair was held in 1957. Maybe the Weyhill Fair will emerge again - or perhaps another mermaid will be spotted swimming through Southampton?
