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Towns in the middle ages were distinguished from villages because
they had markets, which were run by merchants. Beverley's first
market was the Fish Market, now called Wednesday Market, which once
covered a much larger area, from the north side of the Minster up
to the beginning of Butcher Row, and from Highgate (west side) to
Eastgate - a huge triangle. Wednesday Market was organised by the
Minster canons and staff, but may have predated this, taking place
from as early as before the Norman Conquest in 1066: as soon as
there was a great church, with visiting pilgrims, there would be
stalls and people selling goods.
By the 12th century, and perhaps earlier, the town had grown northwards,
where the merchants built their church, St Mary's, at the top of
another enormous market place. This originally stretched from the
current site of Yorkshire Bank to St Mary's, with no permanent buildings
on the west side of Ladygate or in the block from Sow Hill to Hengate.
Once called the Corn Market, this is now known as Saturday Market,
for obvious reasons. It was also divided into other named areas,
each probably selling produce reflected in their names, such as
Glover Row, Bread Row, Butchers’ and Fish Shambles.
These markets were strictly regulated, as they are today, for public
health reasons. Regulation of weights and measures, and the need
to collect tolls from the market stalls, provided much money for
the whole town. They contained stocks and pillories for punishment
of offenders, and a bell marked the opening and closing of the markets.
The markets continue to prosper to this current day, with both Saturday
and Wednesday Market bustling on the first day of the weekend and
the latter still popular midweek. With occasional additions, such
as the Food Festival on the first Sunday in October and Festival
of Christmas in December, it shows that the town’s long tradition
of regular markets and occasional fairs continues to thrive.
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