Monument record 10085 - The Medieval Market: The Forum at St Peter's

The market at Chester appears to have been a prescriptive market (known to have existed before the Norman Conquest and therefore exempt from an official charter by the king) although it is not mentioned in Domesday (1). The earliest location for the market seems to have been outside St Peter’s Church in the 11th century presumably at the lower end of Northgate Street) although by the 12th century the main focus had shifted to the south and east of the church around the Pentice Row. In the 12th century it was referred to as a ‘forum’.

In the medieval period the market expanded to incorporate more permanent sites at the ends of the four main streets. Eastgate Street appears to have been an open space in the 11th century still retaining the worn Roman tiles of an earlier structure (CHER 8379) although this was gradually encroached upon until the 13th century when it was permanently occupied by a permanent structure known as the Buttershops on the north side of the street (CHER 10085/1) selling milk and dairy produce.

West of the church at the eastern end of Watergate Street was the location of the fish market on the south side of the street, known as the ‘Fishboards’ (CHER 10085/2) in the 14th century indicating a Row frontage here also by that point. On the north side of the street the medieval butchers shambles CHER 10085/3) may have abutted the Pentice Row and may have been in existence by the 14th century also.

A number of markets were located in Bridge Street in the medieval period including the medieval wool market near the Common Hall, the cheese market until the 18th century and possibly also the flax and linen markets (CHER 10085/4). The livestock market (CHER 10085/5) remained concentrated in Bridge Street and Lower Bridge Street throughout the medieval period.

An early medieval corn market with a later malt kiln is mentioned attached to the residence of Robert le Barn in 1275 (CHER 10085/6). Although no explicit reference to its location is made, it is presumed that the market was located on Eastgate Street which from an early date also contained a Bakers Row and a bake house. A later reference to a corn market in Eastgate Street places it on the south side in a Row.

<1> Letters, S., 2010, GAZETTEER OF MARKETS AND FAIRS IN ENGLAND AND WALES TO 1516 (Web Site). SCH6766.

<2> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.