NEXT FLITCH TRIALS
Saturday 11 July 2020
only 167 days to go 		 

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Tickets for the 2020 Trials are now on sale - click here...

Applications for 2020 are NOW OPEN!

Can it really be nearly 4 years since the last Flitch Trials? Our ancient custom, which dates back to the days of Chaucer, is unique in the world as far as we know and we are rightly very proud to keep this wonderful event running.

Applications for married couple (Claimants) to try their luck in the 2020 Flitch Trials will close on Friday 14th February 2020.

Good Luck! If you have any other questions, please get in touch.

Flitch Ball on 15th February 2020

WELCOME TO THE DUNMOW FLITCH TRIALS

The Dunmow Flitch Trials exist to award a flitch of bacon to married couples from anywhere in the world, if they can satisfy the Judge and Jury of 6 maidens and 6 bachelors that in 'twelvemonth and a day', they have 'not wisht themselves unmarried again'.

A reference to The Dunmow Flitch can even be found in The Wife of Bath's Tale within Chaucer's 14th century Canterbury Tales.

The Flitch Trials are held every 4 years in Great Dunmow, Essex, England. The town is located north-east of London, just off the A120 between the M11 at Stansted Airport and Colchester: view a map

We must ensure that this unique local tradition continues for hundreds more years. So if you haven't seen or heard of the Dunmow Flitch Trials before, take a browse through this website, then come and watch the trials.

For more info, to volunteer or sponsor the Flitch Trials, please get in touch.

The Flitch Trials are about Marriage. Hopefully, happy marriages. High Court Judge Sir Paul Coleridge launched The Marriage Foundation in 2012. Sir Paul's wise words make us think that especially, in these austere times, less is actually more: 'Marriage is not something that falls out of the sky, ready made, onto beautiful people in white linen suits,' says Sir Paul, 'It involves endless hard work, compromises, forgiveness and love.'

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What's a Flitch of Bacon?
It's also known as a side of bacon, which is basically half a pig, cut lengthways.
Become a Friend
As a Friend of the Flitch Trials, you will be helping to secure the future of this unique and ancient tradition. Every four years, the cost and complexity of putting on the Flitch Trials increases. With your support we can increase the network of people interested in preserving the custom and developing the event to ensure the Flitch Trials continues to be a mainstay on the town's event calendar.
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