Enter the Novelist
The novel, _The Flitch of Bacon: or, the Custom of Dunmow, A Tale of
English Home_, was published by Harrison Ainsworth in 1854. It was
dedicated to Tauchnitz of the famous Leipzig editions.
Much of the action takes place in a mythical Dunmow Flitch Inn, which
is described as having once been the home of "Sir Walter Fitzwalter."
The story turns largely on the desire of the four-times married
landlord of this hostelry to gain the Bacon.
The house Ainsworth is thought to have had in mind is Rose Farm, a
building overlooking the Church. "Monkbury Place," the Lord of the
Manor's house, is imaginary, and Sir Gilbert de
Montfichet--Mountfichet is a local name, however--has no place in
history.
The novel is hard reading, but its publication had the effect of
attracting a good deal of notice to that "Custom of Dunmow" described
as "of late years discontinued." The inhabitants of Great Dunmow--in
the face of "injudicious but fruitless opposition"--at length
proceeded to form a Committee, and Mr. Ainsworth subscribed five
guineas and the cost of two Flitches of Bacon to a fund for a revival
of the ceremony.
When the notices were issued quite a number of applications were
received. A Kentish veterinary surgeon and his wife were among the
selected couples, but the wife died before the ceremony took place.
Eventually the opportunity of presenting themselves at the "trial"
was given to the Chevalier and Madame de Chatelain of London, known
as translators from the French and German, and to Mr. James Barlow, a
Chipping Ongar builder, and his wife.
The "jury of maidens and bachelors" sat in the Town Hall, which was
decorated with flowers, and for the first time there were "Counsel
for the claimants" and "for the Bacon," also a Crier who, "with mock
ceremony," opened the Court.
The successful candidates were "carried in procession to a fête near
the town," where Mr. Ainsworth awarded the Flitches. The management
appears to have been placed in the hands of the lessee of Drury Lane.
Two years afterwards Mr. Harrison Ainsworth again presented Flitches.
The candidates were Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Hawkins of Victoria Place,
Regent's Park, and Jeremiah Heard, a Staffordshire policeman, and his
wife.
For some reason or other the Bacon was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Heard
only; "a silver testimonial" was given to Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins. In
the course of the day, we are told, Mr. Ainsworth animadverted on the
action of the Lord of the Manor in "neglecting to keep up his
charter."