Market town

A market town is a special kind of settlement that got permission, called a market right, a long time ago during the Middle Ages. This permission could come from old traditions or a special document called a royal charter. Having this right meant the town could hold regular markets, which made it different from a smaller village or a bigger city. Many towns in places like Great Britain still have “Market” in their names, such as Downham Market, Market Rasen, and Market Drayton, showing they were once market towns.

In the past, markets were usually held outdoors in open spaces called the market square or market place. Sometimes, there was a special stone in the middle called a market cross or mercat cross in Scotland. These markets were open just one or two days a week. Today, many markets are held inside special halls, but this way of doing things started only recently. As stores became more common, the need for these special markets slowly went down.

History

Market towns were places where people could buy and sell goods for the nearby area. They became more common from the 12th century as Europe’s economy grew and more people lived in towns. By 1086, there were already 50 markets listed in England, and many more were created over the next few hundred years.

These towns often grew near places like castles or monasteries for protection and because these places needed goods. Kings later gave special permission for some villages to hold markets on certain days. Markets were also set up in easy-to-reach spots, like near rivers or crossroads. Later, when railways were built, market towns were chosen to help move goods. Markets were important for trade and bringing people together, with many different kinds of sellers offering things people needed. Over time, permanent shops began to replace weekly markets, and goods started to come from far away as trade grew.

By country

Czech Republic

Main article: Městys

Denmark

In Denmark, the idea of a market town came about during the Iron Age. It is not known which was the first Danish market town, but Hedeby and Ribe were among the earliest. By 1801, there were 74 market towns in Denmark. The last town to gain market rights was Skjern in 1958. In 1970, market towns were combined with nearby areas, losing their special status, but many still call themselves market towns and hold public markets in their historic squares.

German-language area

Further information: Market halls in Berlin and List of markets in Vienna

The right to hold markets in the past is seen in the names of many towns in Austria and Germany, such as Markt Berolzheim or Marktbergel. Other terms used were Flecken in northern Germany, or Freiheit and Wigbold in Westphalia.

Market rights were given as far back as the time of the Carolingian Empire. Around 800, Charlemagne gave the title of market town to Esslingen am Neckar. The ability to name market towns later passed to princes and dukes. Today, the status of a market town exists in laws in Austria, Bavaria, and South Tyrol, though it no longer gives any special rights.

Hungary

In Hungary, the word for market town means "pasture town" and suggests it was not fortified. Most market towns were given their status in the 14th and 15th centuries and grew around older villages. A rise in livestock farming may have led to more market towns during this time.

Studies show that these towns had multiple streets and could grow from groups of villages or older towns. They often had fewer rights than larger cities and were tied to landowners or the church.

Iceland

While Iceland was ruled by Denmark, Danish merchants controlled trade until 1786. After this, six market towns were created. All but Reykjavík lost their market rights in 1836. New market towns were later created by laws. In the late 20th century, market towns lost most of their special rights. The last town to gain market rights was Ólafsvík in 1983. By 1986, the idea of market towns was mostly ended, though some places still use the name.

Norway

Main article: Kjøpstad

In Norway, a market town was a town given special rights to trade by the king or others. People in these towns had the right to buy and sell goods, both there and in nearby areas.

Norway developed market towns later than other parts of Europe due to its sparse population, lack of cities, no industries, and no cash economy. The first market town was created in the 11th century to focus trade in certain places. King Olaf made Bergen a market town in the 11th century. Trade was only allowed through market towns to oversee commerce and collect taxes. This helped grow areas with strategic importance and provided populations to defend them. It also stopped merchants from the Hanseatic League from trading elsewhere.

Norway also had "small seaports" with rights to trade in their area. These were places to export timber and import grain and goods. All trade had to go through these seaports or market towns, stopping unofficial sales and increasing tax revenues.

Norwegian market towns faded and were replaced by free markets in the 19th century. After 1952, both small seaports and market towns became simple towns.

Poland

Main article: Miasteczko

Miasteczko was a type of small town in the old Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, often created under special rules. Central market squares with buildings around them are still common in Polish towns today. After Poland was divided in the late 1700s, these places spread through Austria, Germany, and Russia. Many had large Jewish populations, known as shtetl in Yiddish. These towns had special statuses different from normal towns or cities.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Further information: List of market towns in London, List of markets in London, Market cross § Towns and villages in Great Britain with a market cross, Market houses in Northern Ireland, and List of market houses in the Republic of Ireland

England and Wales

From the time of the Norman conquest, the right to give a charter was usually a royal right. Once a charter was given, it allowed local lords to charge fees and gave the town some protection from other markets. When a charter was given for certain market days, nearby markets could not open on those days. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, many markets grew up across England, giving people choices.

Until around 1200, markets were often held on Sundays, when people gathered in town for church. Some of the oldest markets were in churchyards. By the 13th century, people began moving markets to weekdays and town centers. By the 15th century, markets were not allowed in churchyards.

Colchester is thought to be England's oldest market town, dating back to Roman times. Cirencester also had a market in Roman times. The idea of markets and fairs began in the 13th century after laws like the Magna Carta. The Provisions of Oxford in 1258 were possible because of a town and university at a crossing on the River Thames.

Market towns grew at centers of activity and became important in rural life. Names like Market Drayton, Market Harborough, and Market Rasen show this. A study found evidence of at least 2,400 markets in English towns by 1516.

The English system said a new market town could not be created too close to an existing one. Usually, this meant a day's travel (about 10 kilometers or 6 miles). If it was farther, a new market town could be made. Because of this, market towns often asked the king to close illegal markets elsewhere. These rules still exist today. Other markets can open if they have a license from the charter holder, usually the local town council. Otherwise, the Crown can give a license.

As more charters were given, market towns competed. Towns worked to have high-quality goods, good rules, and nice places for visitors. By the 13th century, places with textile industries built market halls to sell cloth. Towns like Blackwell Hall in London became known for cloth, Bristol for a type of cloth, Stroud for wool, and Worsted for yarn. Banbury and Essex were known for cheeses.

People in medieval England chose where to shop based on the range, quality, and price of goods.

Market towns had a main street or central square for stalls and booths on market days. Many towns put up a market cross in the center for good luck. Examples include the Chichester Cross and Malmesbury Market Cross. Market towns also had market halls with trading areas below and offices above. Smaller market towns include Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, and Painswick near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

A "market town" might or might not have extra rights to govern itself. For example, Newport, Shropshire is part of Telford and Wrekin but is separate. In England, towns with these rights are often called boroughs. When a town was given a market, it often gained extra rights. Many early market towns still hold markets today, like Northampton, which got its first charter in 1189.

The National Market Traders Federation, based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has about 32,000 members and works with traders across Europe. The UK National Archives do not have a single list of modern market rights, but historical charters up to 1516 are listed in the Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England and Wales. William Stow's 1722 book Remarks on London includes a list of all market towns in England and Wales.

Ireland

Market houses were common across Ireland. These buildings had marketplace functions and often had community spaces upstairs. The oldest ones date from the mid-1600s.

Scotland

In Scotland, borough markets were held weekly from early times. A King's market was held at Roxburgh from about 1171, a Thursday market at Glasgow, a Saturday market at Arbroath, and a Sunday market at Brechin.

In Scotland, market towns were often known by their mercat cross: a place where the right to hold a market or fair was given by a ruler. These were usually in central squares or main streets. Towns with regular markets today include: Inverurie, St Andrews, Selkirk, Wigtown, Kelso, and Cupar. Not all still have their mercat cross.

In art and literature

Dutch painters in Antwerp loved to paint market places and market towns starting in the 16th century. One famous painter, Pieter Aertsen, was called the "great painter of the market." Artists were interested in markets because the way people bought and sold things was changing. New groups of traders were appearing, and painters wanted to capture everyday market scenes before they changed forever.