Newnham Market & Fairs

Article Contributed by Peter Stuart

NEWNHAM

Market
A Royal Charter by King Edward I was given on the 20th October 1303 to John de Campania, grantee, allowing a market to be held at the Manor. The market was held on a Thurday and John de Campania was holding the market in 1312.

Fairs
A Royal Charter by King Edward I was given on the 20th October 1303 to John de Campania, grantee, allowing a fair to be held at the Manor. The fair was to be held on the vigil, feast of St Peter and Paul on the 29th June and John de Campania was holding the fair in 1312.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

charter Document recording a grant. A royal charter is distinguished from other forms of royal instrument as it has a witness list and notifies specific groups of the royal act.

grantee The person or institution who received a grant.

fair A trading institution held annually. In medieval England and Wales, a fair was held on a set date, normally associated with the feast of a particular saint. A fair might last only a single day or over a number of days, ranging from two or three days to a week or more.

feast An annual religious festival, often a saint’s day, on which fairs were held.

market A trading institution held weekly. At most places in medieval England and Wales a market was held on a set day, once a week. .

vigil The eve, or day before, a feast.