Regular Charter Markets

Market Towns – towns with markets!
Norfolk has quite a few market towns around the county, and they all host regular markets, offering an array of wares, particularly locally farmed produce and country crafts. These markets are known as charter markets, which were established by Royal Charter, with many some dating back to the middle ages. The charter granted the settlement a market right, which allowed them to host a regular market on a specific day of the week, and not in competition with another market within a days travel (or a proximity of 6.2miles.) Over 150 market charters were granted in Norfolk to settlements of all sizes, but the vast majority of these markets did not last. Some villages which held market charters appended “market” to the name, perhaps to distinguish from other locations, and in the instance of  the villages of Burnham Market and Thorpe Market they retained it despite their markets being long gone.

Local councils are responsible for these markets, and they continue to be a valuable provision within the community in Norfolk, as well as attracting visitors too. The dates and frequency vary, so we recommend checking the place listings of each market (below) and then following the links to the relevant council’s website (if available) to find out more.

Whilst there are other markets in the county organised by other organisations, we’re focusing on Norfolk’s market towns (places that were granted a market charter), and drawing attention to these regular civically ran charter markets for their historical significance.  Note, Norwich was once a market town prior to being granted city status in 1194, hence its inclusion.

Here’s a list of the towns with links that are still council-ran markets.
These are a very important community asset and a strong link to Norfolk’s history. We encourage locals and visitors to visit these markets to ensure they continue to be at vibrant hubs in our communities.

Attleborough
Aylsham
Cromer
Diss
Dereham
Downham Market
Fakenham
Great Yarmouth
Harleston
Hunstanton
King’s Lynn
North Walsham
Norwich
Sheringham
Stalham
Swaffham
Thetford
Watton
Wymondham

The following locations no longer have markets run under the town’s market charter.
In some instances there are now privately ran markets that now run in place of the former charter markets in these towns, and where this is the case we’ve included details.

Acle
Hingham
Holt
Loddon
Reepham
Wells-next-the-Sea  (granted a market charter in 1202, however, we’re unable to trace any recent market)