The Flitch trials are held every 4 years in Dunmow, an abiding tradition of testing and rewarding marital harmony!- if you want to take part in this ancient ritual tradition next Dunmow Flitch Trials and ‘bring home the bacon’ their next meeting is in September 2025.
A little history taken from their page:
‘A common claim of the origin of the Dunmow Flitch dates back to 1104 and the Augustinian Priory of Little Dunmow, founded by Lady Juga Baynard. Lord of the Manor Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife dressed themselves as humble folk and begged blessing of the Prior a year and a day after marriage.
The Prior, impressed by their devotion bestowed upon them a Flitch of Bacon. Upon revealing his true identity, Fitzwalter gave his land to the Priory on the condition a Flitch should be awarded to any couple who could claim they were similarly devoted.
By the 14th century, the Dunmow Flitch Trials had achieved far-reaching notoriety. The author William Langland, who lived on the Welsh borders, mentions it in his 1362 book ‘The Vision of Piers Plowman’ in a manner that implies general knowledge of the custom among his readers.
Chaucer, writing less than half a century later, alludes to the Dunmow Flitch Trials in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” and again does not see the need to explain them to his readers.
However, is it not until 1445 that the winners of the Flitch were officially recorded. The earliest record we have of a successful claimant to the Dunmow Flitch is Richard Wright who travelled from Norwich to try his marital harmony and take home the bacon. The win is recorded in documents from the Priory of Little Dunmow still held by the British Museum.’
