The name ‘Mayfair’ comes from an annual fair that took place on what is now Shepherd Market. Lasting a fortnight from May 1st, the open fields and farmland of the Mayfair area would be a marketplace for live stock, and expanded to include booths of theatres, jugglers, gambling, and sausage stalls. Eventually, the raucous of the fair, which attracted the ruffians from all across London, began to disturb the peace for the local royalty. This led to a clamp down on the festivities in 1709.