Markets and Fairs
The earliest mention of a market / fair in Great Eccleston was in 1216 when it was granted a Royal Charter by King Henry III. A Royal Charter meant that the King would take revenue from the market. This granted the village the right to hold three markets a year and one fair.
The Market Cross
Very little is known about the Market Cross. The original cross was positioned where the bus shelter is now, in the Square. It was described as a rough hewn block placed on three steps. It is believed to have been a boundary stone from White House Lane. The stone had rough markings on it.
The market area was positioned around the market cross (possibly a Butter cross). The market would be positioned around it. The cross was moved in later years to the junction of Leckonby Street and The High Street. The cross included bull rings to tie cattle to it during market days. These were also used to tie farm dogs to when the farmers visited the public houses. the market cross base is all that survives; this was mutilated in the late 1980s by an over zealous villager wishing to use it as a flower bed. The Cross disappeared a long time ago.
The Square area and the Market area
You would have thought that these two areas would have been the same but probably not. The Square in those early days would have spanned from Chapel Street to the Veg shop and was only on the South side of the village centre. It must have been an important part of the village as the High Street was built around it, hence the 'bulge' in that area. Many of the markets in the village lasted 2 days although the Apprentice Market lasted 3 days and by all accounts was very boistrous.
In earlier times three cattle markets were held a year in the "Square" and one fair.
Market Days
The markets were held on 14th March, 14th April and 14th November each year, with the fair held in late August / early September. The dates of the marets did not change as there was no church to stop markets being held on a Sunday.
Apprentice Market held on 14th March
This type of market was very popular in the area and allowed the younger generation to show their wares. Yound farmers and workers would sell or show their skills. Evidence shows that barrel making was popular as was wheel making and ploughing matches held on local fields. This was a boistrous market, possibly one day of market and two days of sobering up. There were freqient fights between residents and many simply stayed in the market area throughout the market. Cattle and other livestock were dold at the market and there are tales that is was not only the villagers that were fighting.
Butter market this was held on 14th April.
Probably a quieter affair. This was the oldest of the markets dating back to the Royal Charter. This specialised market is where local farmers gathered to sell surplus dairy products.
Rushbearing Fair
The village was renowned for rushes for floors and tallow for candles. At harvest time the village held the rushbearing fair. A three day event where the rush carts were paraded. This ecvent was renowned for being riotous. Several farms would create the rush carts and these would be pulled to the Square. The man sitting on top of the cart to hold the whole structure together was 'on the wagon' ie he could not drink. There were human fights, entertain,ent of all types and even bizarre sports like cock fighting in Southern House. This was eventually banned in 1832 although it continued long afterwards. There is even documents of the locking up of people involved in dog fighting. A section of the website looks at the rushbearing in the village.
Late Michaelmas market held on 14th November
This was a late market and prabably sold more farm and woodland produce rather than cattle although it is noted as a cattle market. it probably sold produce that could keep over the winter and was surplus to requirements.
Later markets
These three markets were very important for the farmers in the area to sell their cattle and wares. Following the demise of the cattle fairs along came the annual horse fairs in the early part of the 20th Century (before the First World War).
Eventually the market days died out in the mid 19th Century. Since the 1970s the general market has been in operation on the High Street. It occupies an area close to the markets of the past. This operates once a week on a Wednesday, come rain or shine.
The markets of today are a dying breed having been superseded by supermarkets. Markets are not just a place to sell and buy produce they are at the heart of the community as a social gathering. if we do not use out local market then we could easily lose it.