Markets and Fairs in Thirteenth-Century England Data Collection, 900-1516

The early development of markets and fairs is an issue of central significance in economic history and historical geography. The network of legally established markets and fairs in medieval England, almost all of them authorised by royal grant, was dense, highly developed and apparently originated earlier than in much of Europe. The project provides an overview of the development of the market network across England from 1000 to 1500 in order to explore the overall pattern of spatial distribution and its relation to other economic and social factors, for example density of population, wealth, and patterns of settlement. <br> <br> The already complex marketing network of England was supplemented during the thirteenth century by a great increase in the number of grants of markets and fairs. This project examines the reasons for this increase, taking account of political and institutional factors as well as the economic ones which have dominated discussion in the past. Why these rights were granted, whether the markets and fairs were successful and how they were managed as part of a portfolio of lordly resources are central topics. <br>