The Market Weighton Town Crier

Market Weighton - 750 Years a Market Town ?
1251 - 2001

The Celebration of 2001 that never was !

In 1251 the town was granted a royal charter by Henry 3rd and became a Market Town, with markets being held weekly on Thursdays.  The charter was awarded to acknowledge the geographical importance of the town as a junction of two early routes between the Wolds and the Vale of York. Subsequent to this event Lord Vespi repealed the charter and markets were then held on Wednesdays.  Nowadays a weekly market is held on a Friday.

Market Weighton, like many other towns in the region, relied on its weekly markets and less frequent fairs to maintain its regional standing and prosperity.  During the period 1700 - 1850, Market Weighton's September fair was said to be 'probably the greatest sheep fair in the kingdom with 70,000 to 80,000 animals annually exposed for sale'

The following extracts are from the Hull Daily Mail dated Friday 18th August 2000;

Market Weighton is set to celebrate the 750th anniversary of its Royal charter with an event next spring.
The town's Chamber of Trade and Commerce is appealing to the public for ideas on how to commemorate the granting of the charter, which gave the town the right to hold a Thursday market..........
Chamber of Trade spokesman Kieth Lowe said: "This is a very important historical date for the town.  It was only fitting that we celebrate it in some way."
"We will be linking the event with the annual Giant Bradley Day celebrations in May (2001)."
"However, we want to add an extra dimension to the celebrations this time.  There will be a lot of events being held, but we want to have some kind of occasion to mark the history aspect or the market tradition."

In spite of all this the Giant Bradley Day celebrations were held on Sunday 27th May 2001, without the supposed link to the granting of the Royal Charter.
Sadly no events whatsoever were arranged by Market Weighton Town Council, Market Weighton & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce or Market Weighton Civic Trust to celebrate this important milestone in the history of Market Weighton, a situation which seems to reflect the apathy in the town.

Hopefully the Weighton Area Regeneration Partnership will take note, and redress this situation.

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