Monument record 953/7 - Long Buckby Market

Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln received the grant of a market and two fairs in 1280 at Buckby. However, by 1368 the market seems to have failed.

{1}Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln received the grant of a market and two fairs in 1280 at Buckby. The failure of the market in the later 14th century is not surprising, given its late foundation and the proximity to other well established markets, especially Daventry, less than 5 miles to the south west.

Unlike most of the market villages which failed in the recession of the mid 14th century, Long Buckby still retains a market place within the town plan, confirming that the granting of a market did lead to the formal laying out of a market place. The area seems to have suffered substantial encroachment since the 14th century, though the absence of an early map of the town makes the reconstruction of its former extent difficult. It is possible, as elsewhere, that the island of buildings within the market place represents the site of the medieval shops which lay on the market. The absence of any reference to shops as opposed to stalls in 1294-5, 1303 and 1310, may be a result of the nature of the documentary record. In some other towns the account rolls refer to income from stalls but not from shops even though they are later recorded in other sources. However, the presence of shops would seem a prerequisite for continuity leading to conversion into tenements, a well documented sequence seen in all the surviving towns. It may therefore be that the island of development is simply a post medieval infilling unrelated to the former market function.

{2}Brief synopsis of Market history

Market did not exist 1275-6
1280 Thursday market granted along with the fairs of S. Gregory & S. Lawrence
1281 Market and fairs changed to Tuesday
1353-5 in bad condition
by 1368 had apparently failed

<1> FOARD G., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Long Buckby (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Report). SNN100746.

<1> FOARD G., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Long Buckby (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Report). SNN100746.

<2> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103118.

Record last edited

Feb 28 2020 11:54AM