Dunmow

Dunmow, GREAT, a small market-town of Essex, on the Chelmer, 11 miles NNW. of Chelmsford, and 39 NNE. of London by rail. Pop. of parish, 3005.—At Little Dunmow, 2 miles ESE., are remains of a stately Augustinian priory, founded in 1104. The Dunmow Flitch of Bacon was a prize instituted in 1244, by Robert Fitzwalter, on the condition 'that whatever married couple will go to the priory, and kneeling on two sharp-pointed stones, will swear that they have not quarrelled nor repented of their marriage within a year and a day after its celebration, shall receive a flitch of bacon.' The prize was first claimed in 1445, two hundred years after it had been instituted. After 1751, up to which date only five presentations had taken place, the flitch was not again claimed till 1855; in 1860-77 there were 4 awards, 3 in 1891, 2 in 1899. See W. Andrews' History of the Dunmow Flitch (1877).