Monument record 7196/94 - Medieval bakehouses

In 1298 there were 3 bakehouses in the town worth 70/-. In the charter of 1251 the burgesses were required to bake their bread in the bakehouse on the market square. In 1313-14 the farm of bakehouses was worth £4 but their location is not specified. However in 1464 there were two bakehouses which were farmed for 40/-, while another bakehouse was separately held at farm in the Bond End. The implication is that whereas the bakehouse on the market square served the burgesses that in the Bond End served the bond tenants. In the 17th century only one bakehouse remained, that within the market place, which then lay on the north side of and adjoining the Town Hall, where leaseholders of the manor were bound to bake bread. In the medieval period the bakehouse also incorporated the living space of the baker although it is not certain that it stood on the same site as in 1649, when it is described as a two bay building held by Thomas Rudd who also held the manor. The bakehouse on the market place was taken down when the new town hall was erected in 1808. (1) (2)

<1> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<2> Bainbridge T., 1789, Higham Ferrers, 1789 (NRO Map 1000), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100544.

Record last edited

Apr 24 2017 3:12PM