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Medieval Markets and Fairs

Scattered at regular intervals across the Peak District are small Medieval market centres where surplus produce from the farms and villages could be sold and goods from other areas purchased.  In most instances these were set up by royal charters in the 13th and 14th centuries and often the right to hold annual fairs was included.

It may well be that informal trading took place earlier in most of these locations.  Those at Castleton, Bakewell, Wirksworth and Ashbourne were given town status by charters that made them into boroughs.  Here are some more examples:

Monyash and Tideswell
Bakewell and Hartington

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Monyash and Tideswell

In the central limestone plateau, the village of Monyash was granted a market and fair in 1340, while Tideswell further north was given similar status somewhat earlier, in 1251.  Both have surviving market places, although small parts of these have later been built over.  Explore these photographs to find out more:

	The large late medieval church tower at Tideswell dominates this once important local market centre. The large main market place was sited towards the downslope end of the settlement to the south. A smaller square exists further north towards Town Head, on the road heading to Peak Forest, with a public ‘well' (spring) near the head of the village
Tideswell

The surviving part of the market place is now a green at the village centre with a medieval cross.  To one side of the village green is the Bulls Head public house, the traditional location of lead miners local Barmoot Courts Monyash is geologically unusual, in that it is sited on a small impermeable outcrop of gritstone that allowed natural ponds to form.  Thus, it is an ideal place for a livestock market as large numbers of animals could be watered here.  One out of three adjacent ponds survives, just round the corner and south of the market place

Monyash

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Bakewell and Hartington

Two market centres lay at the edge of the limestone plateau to take advantage of contrasting resource areas, Bakewell to the east and Hartington to the west.

Bakewell was granted its market and fair in 1254 and it is the main market centre of the central Peak District today.  Its 17th century market hall survives, now a Tourist Information Centre, and a small adjacent part of the market place is still used for markets (and parking).  The traditional livestock market has recently moved to new purpose-built premises at the edge of the town.

Hartington, given a charter in 1203, still has an irregularly-shaped market place at the heart of the village, together with adjacent ponds.

For more information on this topic try the archive.

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