Monument record 1189/4 - St Andrew's Market

Possible site of a market cross. There was a market here from 1270-1276, which was revived in 1278.

{1} Berenger le Moine established his estate centre here, in Barnwell St. Andrew, constructing a castle there in the 1260s. He promoted the development of the village towards urban status by the establishment of a market and fair in 1270. The manor was repossessed by Ramsey Abbey in 1276 but the market continued and was so successful that it led to a legal dispute with the Abbot of Peterborough whose ancient market at nearby Oundle was suffering a loss of income. As a result in 1279 the market was extinguished and any chance of Barnwell developing urban status was removed.
Replacing his market at Thurning was clearly part of a strategy to develop Barnwell as a town, in 1270 Berenger obtained a grant of two weekly markets in his manor at Barnwell, on Monday and Friday, and a fair on the vigil of St. Michael and six days thereafter. In 1274-5 the market was changed to a single Wednesday market and the fair confirmed as previously, so long as they caused no harm to neighbouring markets and fairs. In 1276 Berenger was reported to have built a castle without licence and to hold a market in Barnwell and assize of bread and ale, by warrant unknown.
In 1276 the Abbot of Ramsey bought back the manor from Berenger with other manors and the fees and fines of the market. In 1278 the Wednesday market and the 7 day fair grant was confirmed to the abbot. The market clearly was having some considerable success because, after just 9 years from the original grant, in 1279 there was a dispute with the Abbot of Peterborough because of the harm suffered by his market and fair at Oundle. A compromise was reached whereby the market, pillory and tumbrel was discontinued at Barnwell. The men of Ramsey were invited to come before the bailiffs of the Abbot of Peterborough for view of frankpledge, the bailiffs of the Abbot of Ramsey being allowed to sit with others and receive half of the fines and profits from the Abbot of Peterborough’s villeins but to exercise no other jurisdiction. The concerns of the Abbot of Peterborough were clearly not unfounded, for he must have known from the Abbey’s own success with its market at Kettering, which had expanded from its foundation in the early 13th century to overshadow the more ancient market at nearby Rothwell. Barnwell was after all on the east side of the Nene, the ancient course of the main road from Northampton to Peterborough passing through Barnwell rather than Oundle. The traveller to Oundle market would have to pass over the Abbot of Peterborough’s bridges and pay a toll.
There is no evidence of a market in Barnwell All Saints in the 13th century for the extent of 1280-1 makes no reference to any market income. In 1349 John de Ravensholme received a grant of a weekly market on a Friday and a fair on the feast of St. Luke?s the evangelist. This market clearly functioned, despite the untimely date of its grant, in the year after the Black Death reached England, for in 1378 there is record of a complaint by Simon de Ashele that John Went and others broke his newly erected stall (seldam) at Barnwell, took away 3 horses and other things including money and assaulted his servants. This is the second case of a market which was soon to fail being the subject of attack, the other being Geddington.
Berenger had apparently established the market place by taking some of the land from his villeins and given them land in exchange some other land, for in circa 1270-1278 Berenger le Moyne granted to de Lolington the capital messuage and all the land and meadow formerly Thomas de Barnwell’s in the town, fields and meadows of Barnwell with all appurtenances ‘except the land which he had granted to his villeins in exchange for the market place of Barnwell’. According to Bridges there was still a tradition of a market in Barnwell St.Andrew in 1720.

{2}Doc; medieval market cross; unlocated; demolished during civil war.

{3} Medieval market cross, unlocated. Demolished during the Civil War. OS suggests TL05008488 as location.

{4} No further information.

{5, 6} Site of Market Cross, Barnwell St. Andrew (probably at the road junction at TL 0500 8488); there was a market here from 1270-1276, and revived in 1278 {1}; a town was in being in the 14th century {2}.

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

<2> Cole J., The History and Antiquities of Barnwell, (unchecked) (Book). SNN42419.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL08SW18 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 03-SEP-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 393 (Book). SNN77326.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 72, 73-4 (Series). SNN100370.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:34PM