The Stevenage Charter Fair returns on Monday and Tuesday next week – and promises two days of fairground stalls and rides, as well as street food, candy floss and prizes.

The Comet: The annual charter fair is coming to Stevenage on Monday and Tuesday next week. Picture: Georgia BarrowThe annual charter fair is coming to Stevenage on Monday and Tuesday next week. Picture: Georgia Barrow (Image: Archant)

The fair takes place along the High Street from 3pm to midnight on both days.

It has been held every September since King Edward I granted Stevenage a charter in 1281 - giving the right to hold a weekly market and yearly fair for all time.

The fun usually happens on September 22 and 23 each year, however the charter also states that the fair cannot be held on a Sunday.

The main purpose of the early fairs was trade, with cloth, wool and wine merchants stopping off to sell their wares.

The Comet: One of the steam powered merry-go-rounds pictured in 1907One of the steam powered merry-go-rounds pictured in 1907 (Image: Archant)

Sometime over the next 200 years, the festivities were moved to the autumn and by Victorian times the fair was being held on September 22 and 23.

The High Street, Drapers Way, Hitchin Road and part of Lytton Way will be closed to traffic from Sunday through to Tuesday night while the fair is in town.