Monument record 423/4 - Lilbourne Medieval Market

The market was already in existence by the early 13th century. It is however in a rather peripheral location compared to the other early markets in the county and it may be expected that this was not an early foundation, especially as the site had no major central place functions in the Saxon or early medieval periods. However it may be that the market had its origins in the Earl of Leicester’s promotion of the commercial opportunities in a number of his manors in the 12th century, most notably in Northamptonshire at Brackley. The market clearly functioned for in 1248-9 it was worth 17/-, while the monastery of Pipewell was granted freedom of tolls in the Lilbourne market. In 1330 Maude, wife of Robert de Holland was confirmed in her right to hold a Monday market there with pillory, ducking stool and other liberties, appertaining to the manor time out of mind. No later reference has been found to the market and so it must be assumed to have failed in the recession of the later 14th century.

{1} The market at Lilbourne lay in the triangle between Station Road and the footpath which was once part of the Oxford Way.The franchise fo Lilbourne was granted by henry II in the late 12th century to the then lord of the manor, probably Richard de Camville. It was held weekly on a Sunday, but this was changed to Mondays in 1218. This is recorded in the "Roll of Letters Close preserved in the Tower of London". The manor and the market franchise remained with the male heirs of the de Camville family until the death of Roger in about 1235 without male issue. After the death of his daughter the manor was divided between his three sisters. A document of 1329 - "Placita quo Waranto" showed that the family had no pillory or tumbrel for punishing transgressors, which was deemed to be a mandatory appurtenance for a market. Due to competition from the markets at Rugby, Daventry and Lutterworth, the market at Lilbourne did not survive beyond the 16th century.

{3} At one time merchants from overseas went out into Leicestershire and purchased wool where they ought not, and had it carried to Leicester, and were convicted of that as being guilty against the community, for which they were heavily fined and punished. Whereupon the ordinance was made with the assent and consent of the whole community and the strongest petition of the merchants, that the places should be enrolled and announced in public where they should be able to buy without prosecution; and the places to be written are these; Melton, Loughborough, Breedon, Hinckley, Market Bosworth, Lutterworth, Lilbourne and then to be announced publicly: in this way it was decided that henceforth, if any merchant from overseas should hereafter ever be conviced of making such a trespass against the Lord Earl and against the ordinace of the community, he should be more heavily fined than before the ordinance and decision of the community was made. (Translation from the latin).

{4} Source also relates to initial summmary text.
Even the site of the market place could not be established, though it may prove to have been adjacent to the church and castle. However the site may be worthy of detailed study on the back of investigation of the castle and its settlement and landscape context, this being one of the best examples of a motte and bailey castle surviving as an earthwork in the county. There are also some settlement earthworks in the northern part of the settlement area.

The Ancient History of Lilbourne, (unchecked) (Typescript). SNN108805.

<1> Timmins E.W., 1997, Lilbourne, A brief history, (unchecked) (Website). SNN44073.

<2> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 1218 AD (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<3> 1260, Portmanmoot Roll of Leicester, BR IV/8/1M1D (unchecked) (Document). SNN44065.

<4> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (checked) (Report). SNN103118.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2013 12:54PM