Monument record 3250/30 - Wollaston Market

The market was granted to Wm de Bray, holder of the Bury manor in 1260. The right to hold the market was sustained against a challenge in 1275-6 by the Borough of Northampton. The rights were also confirmed in 1330, indicating that the market was still functioning at that time. In 1346 it was described as a ‘certain decayed market (forum debile) every Tuesday, worth 6/8d a year. This suggests that although it had declined it had at that time not been completely abandoned. It must however be presumed that it finally expired very shortly afterwards with the dramatic impact of the Black Death on commercial activity.

{1}Source also relates to initial summary text.

Brief synopsis of Market History

Market grant 1260 Tuesday
Fair Invention of the Cross
Existed 1275-6
Confirmed 1330
In decline by 1346

The market place was presumably that area between the site of the castle and the Bury Manor where there was at least one island of development surrounded by roads and a small open area in the post medieval period. In 1426 reference is made to J. Chechely of Grendon holding a cottage over against the Cross, which may have been the market cross, but the tenement is not otherwise located. The presence of several shops in the village in 1586 does not relate in any way to the existence of a market, which had long since decayed.

<1> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (Report). SNN103118.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2003 11:53AM