Next was the oyster fair; the oysters from Lynn, called the Lynn
channel, were the size of a horse's hoof, and were opened with a pair of
pincers. At the bottom, in the Mead, next the river, was the coal fair;
opposite which were the pottery and fine Staffordshire wares. Returning
to and opposite the oyster fair was the horse fair, held on the Friday
in the week after the proclamation. The show of beautiful animals here
was, perhaps, unrivalled by any fair in the empire; the choicest hunters
and racers from Yorkshire, muscular and bony draught-horses from Suffolk
and every other breeding county, drew together dealers and gentlemen
from all quarters, so that many hundreds of valuable animals changed
masters in the space of twelve hours. Higher up was Dockrell's
coffee-house and tavern, spacious and well stored with excellent
accommodations. About 200 yards onward was Ironmonger-row, where the
dealers from Sheffield, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and other parts,
kept large stocks of all sorts of iron and tin wares, agricultural
implements, and tools of every description. About 20 yards from them,
westward, and bordering on the road, were slop-sellers, dealers in
haubergs, wagoners' frocks, and other habiliments for ploughmen; and
next, the Hatters'-row. Behind Garlick-row, next the show booths, stood
the basket fair, where were sold rakes for haymakers, scythe-hafts, and
other implements of husbandry, of which one dealer has been known to
sell a wagon-load or two.

Having now made the promenade of the fair, let us step into one of
the suttling booths. The principal booth was the Robin Hood, behind
Garlick-row, which was fitted up with a good sized kitchen, detached
from a long room and parlour. Here were tables covered with baize, and
settles of common boards covered with matting. The roof covering was of
hair cloth, the same as the shops, but not boarded.