St Albans Market

In 1553, Henry’s son Edward VI sold the right to hold the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays as well as three fairs on: to a group of local merchants and landowners. The letters patent which recorded this sale also incorporated St Albans as a borough. The new mayor acted as clerk of the market overseeing the setting of prices, the accuracy of weights and measures, and presided over the court of piepowders. Following the restoration, St Albans received a charter in 1664 affirming the town's right to "hold markets and fairs as well in the waste and open streets and places... as elsewhere" and to "erect shambles and stalls and there buy, sell and expose to sale, wares, merchandise, corn,…