July is the month when thousands of people turn up at the little village of Great Dunmow to witness the Dunmow Flitch trials.

The origin of the Dunmow Flitch Trials remains obscure although it is believed to be around 900 years old.

The trials, which take place in the Market Place in Dunmow, involve each couple kneeling on pointed stones in front of the jury. There they are questioned over their sworn oath that they have not quarrelled in the past year. Winning couples are carried through the streets by bearers at shoulder height on the Flitch Chair to receive their bacon. Unsuccessful couples receive  a consolation prize of a gammon joint.

The Victorian writer William Harrison Ainsworth researched the story in which Sir Reginald FitzWalter and his wife, disguised as humble folk, presented themselves at Little Dunmow Priory asking for the prior's blessing on their year-old marriage. Impressed, he ordered his cook to present a flitch (side of bacon) to the lovers.

The couple then revealed their identity, giving lands to the prior on condition that a flitch is given to any couple who was prepared to make an oath that they had not repented of their marriage for a year and a day.

Recorded instances of successful Dunmow Flitch claimants go back to 1445.

In modern times, a pageant is staged every leap year, attracting worldwide television coverage. The 2004 court included many well-known celebrities including Claire Rayner OBE and Dave Monk from BBC Essex. Last year's Flitch Trials took place in Dunmow on the 12 July. The following people successfully claimed the bacon;

• Michael & Janet Denny (Rayleigh, Essex)
• Jeff Dotts & Erin Albers (Nashville, Tennessee, USA)
• Graeme Fearon & Amanda Horner (Ramsbury, Wilts.)
• Des & Claire Rayner (Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middx.)

Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned the Dunmow Flitch tradition in a matter-of-fact way in his Prologue to the Wife of Bath's Tale. Other literary mentions include an 18th century ballad opera by Henry Bate, produced in 1778 at the Haymarket Theatre under the title The Flitch of Bacon. One of the songs from the opera describes the winning of the flitch:

• Since a year and a day
• Have in love rolled away
• And an oath of that love has been taken,
• On the sharp pointed stones,
• With your bare marrow bones,
• You have won our famed Priory bacon.

The original custom of awarding a Flitch to those who can prove marital harmony is not unique to Dunmow.  There are references from across Europe of similar customs now long abandoned.  However the town is unique in continuing to reward marital harmony with a Flitch of Bacon well into the 21^st century.  With each Trial comes amusement, entertainment, renewed community spirit and another piece of history to a beautiful and prosperous town.

Long may it continue.