| Markets
and Fairs
The town of Reading became an important market during Middle times.
Farmers from the countryside would fetch their produce into town for
the weekly market. This was held in St Mary’s Butts, but with
the growing importance of the Abbey was moved to Market Place, next
to one of the main gates into the abbey.
As well as the weekly market, the town was also given the right to hold
fairs. Henry 1st granted a fair to be held on the feast of St Laurence
which is the 10th August, Henry II granted a fair to be held on the
feast of St James (25th July) and King John granted a fair to be held
on the feast of St Philip and St James (1st May). These three fairs
attracted the people from the nearby countryside and the town, but also
brought in people from much further afield. At each fair merchants from
many parts of the country would come to sell their goods, while to entertain
the crowds there would be jugglers and tricksters of all kinds.
Broad Street West was the site of the sheep market. Sheep pens lined
either side of the street with farmers bringing their animals in from
the surrounding countryside.
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