Monument record 1676/6 - Geddington Market

A market was granted in 1248 but by the late 14th century the market was in decline.

{1} Brief synopsis of Market history:
1248 market grant Wednesday + fair S. Mary Magdalen
1327-8 existed
1348-50 being opposed by force
1374 ref to market - in decay and worth almost nothing
1382-3 market ceased for twenty years(?)
There is no reason to believe that it had any commercial functions until the Wednesday market was granted in 1248 together with a fair on S. Mary Magdalene. The market and fair was worth 61/4d per annum in 1327-8. It is clear that during the early part of the 14th century this was a functioning market producing a significant profit to the lord of the manor. There were also at least two burgages are recorded in the village in the late 13th century. The absence of reference to Geddington in 1330 as a functioning market is not, as Masschaele suggested, a result of its failure but rather almost certainly a result of the manor being in the hands of the crown. In the period of greatest economic stress, under the impact of the Black Death, it was reported in 1350 that Queen Isabel has a market every Wednesday at Geddington which she holds for life of king's grant but that some evil doers, to deprive her of the profit thereof, came armed to the same town and by force prevented diverse merchants and others from exposing their goods and merchandise for sale there and assaulted Henry Mulso her men and servants and maimed William de Corby her bailiff wherein she has lost service of these men and profit of the market for a great time. The situation continued to deteriorate for in 1374 the market and some tenements were in decay and the market & fair were now only worth 8d because no one comes there. In 1379-80 mention is made of the existence of at least one shop in the village but as there are various much later references to one or two shops in the village this should not be taken as indicating a significant level of commercial activity. In 1383 it was stated that the market and fair used to be worth 54/8d but that none had been held for twenty years.

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

Record last edited

Jan 7 2022 11:12AM