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Last updated: 17 November, 2006

NB: Additions of 4 May 2004 in red. These updates/additions represent changes to the printed Gazetteer published in 2003 by the List and Index Society.

 

ABINGDON 4497 1972. Borough 1225 (BF, p. 67). 1334 Subsidy £268.97. Benedictine abbey from the seventh century, refounded in the tenth. In 1086, Domesday Book notes ten traders (mercatores) in front of the church door, owing 40d. (Darby, p. 369). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, Ash Wednesday (Harrison, p. 393). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 437–41.
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded 1127, when held by the ch, A Vincent and M of Abingdon. K Hen I notified the bp of Salisbury and the sh of Berkshire that he had confirmed the market at Abingdon to the ch of Abingdon, A Vincent and the M (Regesta, ii, no. 1478). Abingdon Abbey had an earlier and more general right to hold markets in connection with shipping on the river Thames: between 1107 and 1110 K Hen I commanded that the church and monks should have their customs in passing boats, namely in receiving herring (presumably as toll) and in making markets (in mercatis faciendis), as in the time of Edward the Confessor, Wil I and Wil II (Regesta, ii, no. 937). In 1139x54, K Steph confirmed the market to the ch of Abingdon, A Ingulfus and the M (Regesta, iii, no. 5). Between Jan–Mar 1159, K Hen II gave notification that the A of Abingdon was to hold the market as in the time of K Hen I (C.F. Slade and G. Lambrick ed., Two Cartularies of Abingdon Abbey, Oxford Historical Society, new series, xxxii (Oxford, 1990), i, p. 61). A long- running dispute with the men of Wallingford, Berkshire (q.v.) is evidenced between 1159–1189. It was alleged that the A of Abingdon had enlarged his market, which during the reign of K Hen I had sold just bread and ale. K Hen II eventually decided that Abingdon had the right to hold a market (J. Stevenson ed., Chronicon Monasterii de Abingdon, Rolls Series, ii (London, 1858), ii, pp. 227–9).
F (Prescriptive) nundinae recorded 29 Aug 1249 (CR, 1247–51, p. 198).
F (Charter) vfm+5, Trans of Edmund (9 Jun); gr 8 Jun 1290, by K Edw I to A and C of Abingdon. To be held at their chapel of St Edmund the bishop, in the town of Abingdon (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 353).

ALDERMASTON 4596 1650. Borough 1299 (BF, p. 67). 1334 Subsidy £110. The manor passed from the Achard family to the de la Mare family c.1361 (VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 388–9). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 388.
M (Charter) Fri; gr 11 Sept 1292, by K Edw I to Robert Achard. To be held at the manor (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 424). On 10 May 1403, K Hen IV inspected and confirmed the charter of K Edw I granting a market to Robert Achard. It was confirmed to Thomas de la Mare, kinsman and heir of Robert Achard (CPR, 1401–5, p. 223). The market was held until the nineteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 388).
F (Charter) vfm, Trans of Thomas the Martyr (7 Jul); gr 11 Sept 1292, by K Edw I to Robert Achard. To be held at the manor (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 424). On 10 May 1403, K Hen IV inspected and confirmed the charter of K Edw I granting a fair to Robert Achard. It was confirmed to Thomas de la Mare, kinsman and heir of Robert Achard (CPR, 1401–5, p. 223). Fair held until the nineteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 388).

BASILDON 4612 1793. 1334 Subsidy £101.42. See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 458.
M (Charter) Mon; gr 22 Jun 1309, by K Edw II to Thomas le Botiller (CChR, 1300–26, p. 129). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Barnabas (11 Jun); gr 22 Jun 1309, by K Edw II to Thomas le Botiller (CChR, 1300–26, p. 129). To be held at the manor. A market and fair held at the manor are mentioned in the eighteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 458). It is not clear whether this is the same market and fair.

BAULKING 4317 1906. 1334 Subsidy £68.69. VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 544.
M (Letter Close) Thurs; mercatum, gr 23 Sept 1218, by K Hen III to Henry son of Gerold. Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to cause Henry son of Gerold to have the market (RLC, i, p. 370). Mandate to the sh of Berkshire that the day of Henry son of Gerold’s market was henceforth to be changed from Thurs to Tues, dated 18 Jan 1219 (RLC, i, p. 386).
M (Charter) Tues; mercatum, gr 15 Jun 1254, by K Hen III to Warin son of Gerold (Roles Gascons, 1242–54, no. 3799; CPR, 1247–58, p. 307). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Trans of Nicholas in May (9 May); feria gr 15 Jun 1254, by K Hen III to Warin son of Gerold (Roles Gascons, 1242–54, no. 3799; CPR, 1247–58, p. 307). To be held at the manor.

BRAY 4902 1796. Borough 1225 (BF, p. 67). Beresford identifies Bray as a borough, but the evidence for its urban status is slight. 1334 Subsidy £165.59.
M (Prescriptive: borough) No further information for the market.

CATMORE 4453 1803. 1334 Subsidy £22.50. See also VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 9–10.
M (Charter) Mon; gr 16 Oct 1306, by K Edw I to Rogo Gascelyn (CChR, 1300–26, p. 70). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Margaret (20 Jul); gr 16 Oct 1306, by K Edw I to Rogo Gascelyn. To be held at the manor (CChR, 1300–26, p. 70). The fair had fallen into disuse by the late eighteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 9).

COOKHAM 4896 1855. Borough 1225 (BF, p. 67). 1334 Subsidy £136. An important early estate centre and minster belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury as described as urbs in the 490s (N. Brooks, The Early History of the Church of Canterbury (Leicester, 1984), pp. 103–4; J. Blair, ‘The minsters of the Thames’ in J. Blair and B. Golding eds., The Cloister and the World (Oxford, 1996), pp. 5–28). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 125.
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded 1086, mercatum. Of the new market ... 20s. (Darby, p. 369).
VCH states that fairs were held on 16 May and 11 Oct, but gives no dates for their operation, other than that they fell into disuse in the nineteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 125).

EAST GARSTON 4361 1771. 1334 Subsidy £75.55. See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 248.
M (Charter) Fri; gr 1238, by K Hen III to Henry de Turberville (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 248). There is no subsequent evidence for the market.
F (Charter) vfm, All Saints (1 Nov); gr 1238, by K Hen III to Henry de Turberville (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 248). There is no subsequent evidence for the fair.

EAST HENDRED 4460 1888. 1334 Subsidy £85.35. East Hendred was transferred from Berkshire to Oxfordshire in 1974 (Guide, i, p. 19).
M (Grant: other) Tues; gr 1415, by K Hen V to P of Sheen (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 296). The market never flourished.
F (Grant: other) day+vfm St Augustine (26 May); gr 1415, by K Hen V to P of Sheen (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 296).
F (Grant: other) day+vfm St Katherine the Virgin (25 Nov); gr 1415, by K Hen V to P of Sheen (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 296).

EAST ILSLEY 4489 1812. By the mid thirteenth century, the manor passed from Sewat de Osevill to Ralph de St Amand, father of Amaury de St Amand. East Ilsley was also known as Chipping Ilsley in the late thirteenth and fifteenth centuries and as Market Ilsley in the mid seventeenth century (VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 1, 25, 28, 242–3; M. Gelling ed., The Place Names of Berkshire, ii (Cambridge, 1974), p. 503). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 1, 25, 28, 242–3.
M (Grant: other) Tues; mercatum, gr 17 Mar 1222, by K Hen III to Sewat de Osevill. Sewat gave one palfrey for the market at ‘Hildest’, to be held until the king came of age (C 60/16 m. 6). In 1276, Almeric de Sancto Amando claimed a Tues market by charter of K Hen III. The market was alleged to be damaging the King’s market at Wallingford, Berkshire (q.v.) (RH, i, p. 18).

FARINGDON 4288 1957. Borough 1225 (BF, supplement, p. 61). 1334 Subsidy £155.97. Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 492.
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded 7 Mar 1218, mercatum. On 7 Mar 1218, K Hen III ordered the sh of Berkshire to ensure that the market was henceforth held on Mon (RLC, i, p. 354). This was probably an order to change the day of an existing market; although the previous day of the market was not stated, it was very likely Sun. On 18 Feb 1313, it was stated that whereas the A and M of Beaulieu had from a long time past had by grant of the king’s predecessors a Mon market at their manor, the A, M and burgesses of the town had petitioned that the day be changed to Tues, which the king granted in lieu (CChR, 1300–26, p. 203). Another licence for a change to Tues was obtained in 1594 (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 492).
F (Letter Close) vf, Luke the Evangelist (18 Oct); feria gr 26 Jan 1222, by K Hen III to A of Beaulieu. To be held at the manor until the king came of age (RLC, i, p. 486). Granted by K Hen III to the A and M of Beaulieu on 20 Sept 1227 (CChR, 1226–57, p. 60).
F (Prescriptive) v, Trinity Sunday (Easter dep); recorded 1260 (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 492).

FINCHAMPSTEAD 4793 1637. 1334 Subsidy £69.75. See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 242.
F (Charter) Mon, Tues and Wed in Whitsun week (Easter dep); gr 5 Dec 1458, by K Hen VI to Hugh Pakenham and Constance his wife. To be held at the manor (CChR, 1427–1516, p. 130). The fair was granted to Thomas Harrison in 1583, but was thereafter discontinued (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 242).

HINTON WALDRIST 4375 1991. 1334 Subsidy £70.30. VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 464.
M (Letter Close) Wed; mercatum, gr 28 Sept 1218, by K Hen III to Henry de St Walerico (RLC, i, p. 370). To be held at the manor.

HUNGERFORD 4333 1686. Borough c.1170 (BF, p. 68). 1334 Subsidy £151.03. Town developed after the Norman Conquest (Beresford, p. 395). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, 10 Aug (Harrison, p. 395). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 187.
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded 3 Jul 1297, held by Edmund, the king’s brother [earl of Lancaster] lately deceased (CIPM, iii, no. 423). On 12 May 1361, a market was held by Henry, duke of Lancaster, lately deceased (CIPM, xi, no. 118).
F (Prescriptive) recorded 12 May 1361, held by Henry, duke of Lancaster, lately deceased (CIPM, ix, no. 118).

KINGSTON LISLE 4326 1876. 1334 Subsidy £54.22. Kingston Lisle was transferred from Berkshire to Oxfordshire in 1974 (Guide, i, p. 20). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 314.
M (Charter) Thurs; gr 1227x72, by K Hen III to Warin fitz Gerold (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 315). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, John the Baptist (24 Jun); gr 1227x72, by K Hen III to Warin fitz Gerold (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 315). To be held at the manor.

KINTBURY 4383 1670. 1334 Subsidy £42.30. The Benedictine nunnery founded here after 1147 by the earl of Leicester was moved to Nuneaton, Warwickshire (q.v.) c.1155. See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 207.
M (Charter) Fri; gr 28 Nov 1267, by K Hen III to Ps and N of Sheftesbyre (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 85). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Nativity of Mary (8 Sept); gr 28 Nov 1267, by K Hen III to Ps and N of Sheftesbyre (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 85). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Simon and Jude (28 Oct); gr 28 Nov 1267, by K Hen III to Ps and N of Sheftesbyre (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 85). To be held at the manor.

LAMBOURN 4326 1790. Borough 1225 (BF, p. 68). 1334 Subsidy £112.24. A market probably existed in the Anglo-Saxon period (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 251). Described as Chipping Lambourn in 1227 and through to the mid eighteenth century (M. Gelling ed., The Place Names of Berkshire, ii (Cambridge, 1974), p. 333). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 251–2.
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded 5 May 1284, held by William Plokenet (CIPM, vi, no. 191). The market is mentioned as part of the property of the recently deceased William Plokenet in Sept 1361 (CIPM, xi, no. 163).
M (Charter) Fri; gr 8 Mar 1446, by K Hen VI to Thomas Liseux, dean of the cathedral ch of St Paul’s, London, parson or impropriator of the ch of Chepynglamburn (CChR, 1427–1516, p. 56). A Fri market was held until the nineteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 251–2).
F (Grant: other) vf, Matthew the Evangelist (21 Sept); feria gr between 21 and 24 Oct 1219, by K Hen III to Fulk fitz Warren. To be held at the manor. Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to cause him to have it (C 60/9 m. 1). Nova Oblata: he owed one palfrey (PR, 3 Hen III, pp. xx, 115, 162; PR, 4 Hen III, p. 187). For the confusion of this entry with Writtle, Essex (q.v.), see PR, 3 Hen III, p. xx. Fair on vfm Matthew (21 Sept) granted by charter by K Hen IIInto Fulk fitz Warren on 3 Sept 1227 (CChR, 1226–57, p. 58). Order to sh of Berkshire regarding the fair, 1 Sept 1227 (RLC, ii, p. 199).
F (Charter) vfm, Philip and James (1 May); gr 8 Mar 1446, by K Hen VI to Thomas Liseux, dean of the cathedral ch of St Paul’s, London, parson or impropriator of the ch of Chepynglamburn (CChR, 1427–1516, p. 56).
F (Charter) vfm, Clement the Pope (23 Nov); gr 8 Mar 1446, by K Hen VI to Thomas Liseux, dean of the cathedral ch of St Paul’s, London, parson or impropriator of the ch of Chepynglamburn (CChR, 1427–1516, p. 56).

MAIDENHEAD 4884 1812. Maidenhead developed in the later thirteenth century, when a new bridge was built across the river Thames. Town incorporated in 1582 (Beresford, p. 395). In March 1582, Qu Eliz I granted the burgesses of Maidenhead a Mon market and two annual fairs. There is no evidence of a market or fair during the medieval period (VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 97–8). Market town c. 1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, 30 Nov (Harrison, p. 396). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 97–8.

MARSH BENHAM 4426 1674. 1334 Subsidy £102.36. The value for the 1334 Lay Subsidy relates to Benham Valence, which is identified by Glasscock as Marsh Benham (Glasscock, p. 10). As the location of the market within the Benham estate is unknown, the grid references are given to Marsh Benham, which is currently the largest settlement.
M (Grant: other); mercatum, gr 1200, by K John to Hugh de Nevill. Nova Oblata, in 1200, Hugh de Nevill owed one palfrey for having a market at an unidentified place in Berkshire (PR, 2 John, p. 188). He had not paid this at Easter 1208 (PR, 3 John, p. 199; Chancellor’s Roll, 3 John, p. 261; PR, 5 John, pp. 162–3; PR, 9 John, p. 186; R.A. Brown ed., The Memoranda Roll for the Tenth Year of King John, Pipe Roll Society ns 31 (London, 1957), p. 24). Each reference to Hugh’s debt was made under, or near to, a section in the relevant record headed ‘pleas of the forest’, confirming that this was the Hugh de Nevill from the family of royal foresters. None of the records of Hugh’s debt identify the location of his market within Berkshire. There is only one reference to Hugh de Nevill in the index of VCH Berkshire, which notes that at the beginning of the thirteenth century he held an estate called Benham, lately held by Hugh Wake (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 104). King John granted Hugh de Nevill the lands and the heir of Hugh Wake on 14 Oct 1199; presumably this included Benham (RCh, p. 27). Hugh de Nevill was holding the Benham estate in 1210 and 1212. It subsequently passed back to the Wake family until 1251, when it was granted to William de Valence. Henceforth the estate became known as Benham Valence (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 102). VCH does not record the grant of the market and provides no further evidence for trading taking place on this estate. However, there is no other evidence for Hugh’s holdings within the county and a strong correlation between the date on which he was granted Benham and the first evidence of the grant of the market. It therefore seems likely that Hugh’s market was to be held at the Benham estate. As there is no subsequent evidence for the market, it is possible that it was not set up, or that it failed to thrive due to the proximity of nearby markets such as Hungerford and Newbury, Berkshire (q.v.).

NEWBURY 4470 1672. Borough 1189x1217 (BF, p. 68). 1334 Subsidy £412.13. A new town which grew up on the main road between Southampton and Oxford. K Hen II forbade the men of Newbury to interfere with the market at Thatcham, Berkshire (q.v.) (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 312). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, Thurs after Trinity Sunday; 29 Sept (Harrison, pp. 394, 396). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 136.
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded c.1204, held by the count of Perche. The count of Perche’s estates had been forfeited as Terra Normannorum; he received £8 from the market. In 1228, the men of Andover were granted liberties in the Newbury market (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 136). The toll of the market belonged to Edmund de Mortuo Mari on 25 Jul 1304 (CIPM, iv, no. 235).
F (Charter) fm, Bartholomew (24 Aug); feria gr 7 Jul 1215, by K John to hospital and brothers of St Bartholomew of Newbury. Order to the sh of Berkshire, dated 7 Jul 1215 (RLC, i, p. 219b). Fair continued in the twentieth century (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 148).

OLD WINDSOR 4992 1747. Borough 1086 (BF, p. 68). 1334 Subsidy £40. Site of a royal residence in the Anglo Saxon period. Described as a villa in Domesday Book. By 1087, William the Conqueror had begun to construct a new castle overlooking the Thames at Windsor, Berkshire (q.v.). After c.1107, the castle became the new royal residence and the focus of urban activity (Beresford, p. 396; Darby, p. 364). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 56.
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further information for the market.

READING 4715 1735. Borough 1086 (BF, p. 68; Darby, p. 364). Mint 1042–66. 1334 Subsidy £293.06. Site of nunnery in the tenth century, probably destroyed in 1006. The later Benedictine abbey and royal burial place was founded in 1121. Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, 1 May; 24 Jun; 25 Jul (Harrison, pp. 393–5). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 342.
M (Prescriptive: borough, mint) recorded 19 Jun 1253, mercatum, held by A of Reading. Mandate to the sh of Berkshire not to allow the A of Reading to move the market of the town from the place where formerly it was accustomed to be held (CR, 1251–3, p. 374). Market probably held on Sat (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 350).
F (Grant: other) f+3, Laurence (10 Aug); gr c.1129x33, by K Hen I to A and M of St Mary’s, Reading (Regesta, ii, no. 1864). K Hen II confirmed the fair to the M of Reading in 1156–7 (Actes de Henri II, i, p. 133). Fair fell into disuse by the mid fifteenth century, possibly as early as the late thirteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 350).
F (Charter) f+3, James (25 Jul); feria gr 1100x35, by K Hen I to M of Reading (Monasticon, iv, p. 42 no. xi). In 1154x89, K Hen II granted the ch of Reading and the M a fair on f+3 James the apostle in the month of Jul (Monasticon, iv, p. 42 no. x). In 1189x99, K Ric I granted the M of Reading a fair on f+3 James, just as they had it in a charter of K Hen I (Monasticon, iv, p. 42 no. xi). The fair was still held at the time of the dissolution of the abbey (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 355).
F (Charter) vf+2, Philip and James the Apostles (1 May); feria gr 1 May 1205, by K John to ch of St Mary of Reading, A Elias and the M (RCh, p. 148). The fair was still held at the time of the dissolution of the abbey (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 355).

SHELLINGFORD 4319 1935. 1334 Subsidy £73.25. See also VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 267–8, 476.
F F (Grant: other) vf+2 Holy Cross (14 Sept or 13 May), 1203-4 by K John to earl of Albemarle (Rotuli de Liberate ac de Misis et Prestis regnante Johanne, ed. T.D. Hardy (London, 1844), p. 57).
F (Prescriptive) feria recorded 1212, held by A of Abingdon (CRR, vi, pp. 232, 296). In 1212, the earl of Albermarle claimed that the A of Abingdon’s fair was to the detriment of his fair at Wantage, Berkshire (q.v.). The A of Abingdon claimed that he did not have a fair, but a wake which his predecessors had held since the conquest of England (CRR, vi, pp. 232, 296–7). On 9 Sept 1221, K Hen III granted the A of Abingdon that the fair which had been held at the manor in K John’s reign for two days, vf Faith (6 Oct), could be held for those two days until he came of age. Notice to sh of Berkshire (RLC, i, p. 469b). In 1224, the A of Abingdon agreed to end his fair at Shellingford to the benefit of that at Wantage (VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 267–8).

SHRIVENHAM 4241 1891. 1334 Subsidy £62.63. In the Lay Subsidy of 1334, Shrivenham was assessed in two parts: at a tenth, which was valued at £36.88 and at a fifteenth, which was valued at £25.75, making a total of £62.63 (Glasscock, p. 10). The manor passed from the Valence family, through Elizabeth Hastings to Richard Talbot. See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 532.
M (Charter) Thurs; gr 8 Jul 1257, by K Hen III to William de Valence, the king’s brother (CChR, 1226–57, p. 471); conf 7 Mar 1383 by K Ric II to Richard de Talbot, kn (CPR, 1381–85, pp. 232–3). Market fell into disuse before the late eighteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 532).
F (Charter) vfm, Mary Magdalen (22 Jul); gr 8 Jul 1257, by K Hen III to William de Valence, the king’s brother (CChR, 1226–57, p. 471); conf 7 Mar 1383 by K Ric II to Richard de Talbot, kn (CPR, 1381–85, pp. 232–3). To be held at the manor.

SPEEN 4455 1678. 1334 Subsidy £63.94.
M (Letter Close) Mon; mercatum, gr 6 Mar 1218, by K Hen III to W[illiam] Mar[shall] earl of Pembroke (RLC, i, p. 354). To be held at the manor. Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to cause him to have it.

STANFORD IN THE VALE 4342 1935. 1334 Subsidy £119.83. See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 479.
M (Charter) Thurs; gr 18 Apr 1230, by K Hen III to William de Ferrers, earl of Derby (CChR, 1226–57, p. 118). Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to publicise the market and to cause it to be established, 19 Apr 1230 (CR, 1227–31, p. 331).
F (Charter) vfm, Denis (9 Oct); gr 18 Apr 1230, by K Hen III to William de Ferrers, earl of Derby (CChR, 1226–57, p. 118). Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to publicise the fair and to cause it to be established, 19 Apr 1230 (CR, 1227–31, p. 331).

THATCHAM 4516 1672. Borough 1306 (BF, p. 68). 1334 Subsidy £31.98. Pre-Conquest royal estate centre, granted to Reading abbey by K Hen I in 1125. See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 312.
M (Charter) Sun; gr 1100x35, by K Hen I to M of Reading (Monasticon, iv, p. 42 no. xi). In 1153–5, Henry duke of Aquitaine ordered the men of Berkshire to go to the A of Reading’s market, just as in the time of K Hen I, or face a fine of £10 (Regesta, iii, no. 710). In 1173x88, K Hen II confirmed to the M of Reading the right to hold a Sun market, which they had had in the time of K Hen I (B.R. Kemp ed., Reading Abbey Cartularies, ii, Camden Society, fourth series, 33 (London, 1987), no. 1112). K Hen II also forbade the men of Newbury, Berkshire (q.v.) to interfere with the market (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 312). In 1189x99, K Ric I granted the M of Reading a Sun market (forum) in the town, just as it had been granted in a charter of K Hen I (Monasticon, iv, p. 42 no. xi). On 16 Mar 1218, the sh of Berkshire was ordered to change the day of the market to Thurs (RLC, i, p. 355b). At the time of the dissolution of Reading abbey, the market was said to have no value (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 312).
F (Letter Close) vf, Trans of Thomas the Martyr (7 Jul); feria gr 29 Jan 1222, by K Hen III to A of Reading. To be held at the manor until the king came of age (RLC, i, p 486b). The fair was recorded at the time of the dissolution of Reading abbey, when it was said to have no value (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 312).

TWYFORD 4788 1759.
F (Charter) vfm, Assumption (15 Aug); gr 28 Oct 1250, by K Hen III to Ralph fitz Nicholas (CChR, 1226–57, p. 349). To be held at the manor.

WADLEY 4311 1958.
F (Charter) f, Ascension (Easter dep); gr 10 Feb 1364, by K Edw III to Richard de Pembrugge (CChR, 1341–1417, p. 184). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) f, Mary Magdalen (22 Jul); gr 10 Feb 1364, by K Edw III to Richard de Pembrugge (CChR, 1341–1417, p. 184). To be held at the manor.

WALLINGFORD 4607 1893. Borough early tenth century (Defence, pp. 219–20). Mint 924–39 – 1135. 1334 Subsidy £96.24. An important centre of defence and commerce on the river Thames from the late ninth or early tenth century. Borough in Domesday Book. Subsequently overshadowed by Oxford and Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire (q.v.). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, 5 Apr (Harrison, p. 393). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 532.
M (Prescriptive: borough, mint) Sat; recorded 1086, mercatum (Darby, p. 369). Market recorded 1155, when K Hen II prohibited that at Crowmarsh Giffard, Oxfordshire (q.v.) (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 68). The market was held on Sun in the reign of K Hen II (J. Stevenson ed., Chronicon Monasterii de Abingdon Rolls Series, ii (London, 1858) p. 227). A long-running dispute with the A of Abingdon over his market at Abingdon, Berkshire (q.v.) is evidenced from the reign of K Hen II (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 533). Market recorded in 1207 and 1214 (PR, 9 John, p. 186, PR, 16 John, p. 49). On 26 Oct 1214, the market was alleged to be damaged by that at Crowmarsh Giffard. It was described by K John as his own market (RLC, i, p. 175). On 28 Jul 1218, the sh of Berkshire was ordered to proclaim the change of market day from Sun to Mon (RLC, i, p. 366b). A legal case alleging that the town was damaged by the market at Crowmarsh Giffard was postponed in Nov 1229 (CR, 1227–31, p. 265). There were further complaints regarding Crowmarsh Giffard market in 1234 (VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 533–4). In 1276, the king’s market at Wallingford was being damaged by the market at East Ilsley, Berkshire (q.v.) (RH, i, p. 18). In the thirteenth century, there was a corn market and a fish market at Wallingford (VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 533–4).
F (Letter Close) Fri in Pentecost week+3 (Easter dep); feria gr 28 Mar 1205, by K John. Notice to the sh of Oxford to establish the fair (RLC, i, p. 24b). A fair, the feast of which was not given, was noted in 1221 (CRR, x, p. 200). On 4 Jun 1227, a fair, the feast of which was not given, was said to be damaged by that held at Swyncombe, Oxfordshire (q.v.) on vfm Botolph (17 Jun), which was therefore prohibited (RLC, ii, p. 188b).
F (Charter) f, Nativity of John the Baptist (24 Jun); gr 15 Nov 1499, by K Hen VII to mayor, burgesses and inhabitants of Wallingford (CChR, 1427–1516, p. 273). To be held at the town.
F (Charter) f, Nicholas the bp and confessor (6 Dec); gr 15 Nov 1499, by K Hen VII to mayor, burgesses and inhabitants of Wallingford (CChR, 1427–1516, p. 273). To be held at the town.

WANTAGE 4397 1879. 1334 Subsidy £75.63. Royal manor in K Alfred’s will. Manor remained royal demesne until K Ric I granted it to the earl of Aumale. Through the earl’s daughter, it passed to William Marshall the younger (d. 1231) in 1214. Between 1214 and 1219, it is possible that the manor was also adminstered by William Marshall the elder (d. 1219). William Marshall granted the manor to the fitz Warin family before 1219 (VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 320–1; QW, p. 81; CRR, vii, p. 148). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 320.
M (Prescriptive) recorded in 1203-4, when K John allowed the earl of Aumale to change the market at Wantage (Wanteting) from Sunday to Monday (Rotuli de Liberate ac de Misis et Prestis regnante Johanne, ed. T.D. Hardy (London, 1844), p. 57). In 1284 held by Fulk fitz Warin, who in 1285 received a licence to set up booths in his weekly market, pulled down by the justices on the last eyre in Berkshire, on a presentment by some rivals that they had been erected after a previous eyre in the time of Henry III (CPR, 1281–92, p. 181). The previous eyre was held in Oct and Nov 1284 (D. Crook, Records of the General Eyre (London, 1982), p. 163).
F (Prescriptive) feria recorded 1212, held by earl of Albermarle [Aumale], who stated that he had it of the king’s gift. The earl claimed that it was being damaged by the fair of the A of Abingdon at Shellingford, Berkshire (q.v.) (CRR, vi, pp. 232, 296–7). The earl may have been granted the fair when he received the manor, that is, by 1199. In 1214, William Marescallus, who had acquired the manor, was holding a fair at Wantage, which he stated that the king had conceded to him. He brought a case against the A of Bello Loco, alleging that the A had obstructed his fair (CRR, vii, p. 148). In a letter dated 28 Jul 1217, K Hen III informed the sh of Berkshire that he had conceded to Alan fitz Warin a fair at Wantage, just as a it had previously been granted to Alan’s father by W. Marshall, ‘our keeper and the keeper of our kingdom’. The sh was ordered to cause Alan to have the fair without delay (RLC, i, p. 317b). In 1224, Fulk fitz Warin protected his fair at Wantage through an agreement with the A of Abingdon, by which the latter’s fair at Shellingford, Berkshire (q.v.) was closed. The fair at Shellingford had been held on vf Faith (6 Oct) (VCH Berkshire, iv, pp. 267–8). A fair was being held by William son of Warin in Feb 1235 (CRR, xv, no. 1488). On 27 Apr 1273, it was stated that a fair had been held at Wantage on the feast of Faith (6 Oct) 1250 (CIPM, ii, no. 37). This may well have been the date of the fair recorded since 1212, although it is possible that it was a second fair.
F (Charter) vfm, Trans of Thomas the Martyr (7 Jul); gr 30 May 1246, by K Hen III to Fulk son of Warin (CChR, 1226–57, p. 294). To be held at the manor. In 1276, it was alleged that Fulk fitz Warin had used violence to compel people to attend his fair at Wantage (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 476). The date of the fair was not given.

WARGRAVE 4790 1785. Borough 1225 (BF, p. 69). 1334 Subsidy £315. See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 192.
M (Letter Close) Mon; mercatum, gr between 3 and 15 Jun 1218, by K Hen III to P[eter] bp of Winchester. To be held at the manor (RLC, i, p. 363b). On 5 May 1227, sh of Berkshire was ordered to publicise and cause to be held the market of P[eter] bp of Winchester, which was to be held just as it was before the King prohibited all markets raised since his first coronation (RLC, ii, p. 185). There is no record of the market later than the thirteenth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 192).

WEST WOODHAY 4391 1631. 1334 Subsidy £33.75.
M (Charter) Tues; gr 28 Jul 1317, by K Edw II to John de Sancto Amando (CChR, 1300–26, p. 359). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Purification (2 Feb); gr 28 Jul 1317, by K Edw II to John de Sancto Amando (CChR, 1300–26, p. 359). To be held at the manor.

WICKHAM 4395 1715. 1334 Subsidy £4.86. A hamlet of the manor of Welford, held by the abbey of Abingdon from the tenth century until the Dissolution (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 117). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 122.
F (Prescriptive) nundinae recorded 1276, held by K Edw I (RH, i, pp. 13, 17). The king’s fair is mentioned in 1276. Before then, Walter Giffard, rector of Wickham church, had a liberty there in a defined stretch of land, where presumably he rather than the king was able to collect revenues.

WINDSOR 4968 1768. Borough 1131 (BF, p. 68). 1334 Subsidy £114.46. William the Conqueror began the construction of a new royal castle here by 1087. Settlement grew up around the castle, shifting the focus of urban development away from Old Windsor, Berkshire (q.v.) (Beresford, p. 395). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, 24 Jun; 13 Oct (Harrison, pp. 394, 396). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, p. 56.
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further evidence for the market.
F (Letter Close) vf+2, George (23 Apr); gr 1350, by K Edw III (CCR, 1349–54, p. 225). To be held at the town. Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to proclaim the fair. The date of the grant is missing on the roll.
F (Letter Close) vf+3, Midsummer (24 Jun); gr 1350, by K Edw III (CCR, 1349–54, p. 225). To be held at the town. Mandate to the sh of Berkshire to proclaim the fair. The date of the grant is missing on the roll.
F (Letter Patent) f, Edward, king and confessor (13 Oct); gr 22 Sept 1466, by K Edw IV to Edmund Pury, now mayor, Thomas Sherman and William Stephen, bailiffs and the burgesses and inhabitants of the town (CPR, 1461–67, p. 551). To be held in the town.

WOKINGHAM 4815 1688. 1334 Subsidy £67.25. Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 473). Fair 1587, 11 Jun (Harrison, p. 394). See also VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 227–8.
M (Letter Close) Tues; mercatum, gr 15 Dec 1218, by K Hen III to bp of Salisbury. To be held at the manor until the king came of age. The letter close was cancelled ‘because on the fine roll’ (RLC, i, p. 385). On 2 Jan 1219, the bp of Salisbury gave one palfrey for a Tues market at the manor, until the king came of age (C 60/9 m. 10). 1219, Nova Oblata: R. bp of Salisbury owed one palfrey for a Tues market, to be held at his manor, until the king came of age (PR, 3 Hen III, p. 162). Sh of Berkshire ordered to exempt R. bp of Salisbury’s market at the manor from a general prohibition of markets and fairs raised during the minority, 5 Mar 1227 (RLC, ii, p. 174). Market granted by charter by K Hen III to the ch of St Mary of New Salisbury and Richard the bp on 20 Mar 1227. To be held at the bp’s manor of Sunning in Wokingham (CChR, 1226–57, p. 25). On 11 Aug 1339, K Edw III confirmed this charter (CPR, 1338–40, p. 311). The market appears to have survived into at least the sixteenth century. It was discontinued, but re-established in 1886, from which time it continued into the twentieth century (VCH Berkshire, iii, pp. 227–8).
F (Charter) vfm, Barnabas (11 Jun); gr 17 Apr 1258, by K Hen III to Giles, bp of Salisbury (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 5). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, All Saints (1 Nov); gr 17 Apr 1258, by K Hen III to Giles, bp of Salisbury (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 5). To be held at the manor.

YATTENDON 4554 1745. 1334 Subsidy £48.80. In 1315, the manor passed from the Yattendon family to Osbert Clinton and then to John de la Beche (VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 126). See also VCH Berkshire, iv, p. 126.
M (Charter) Tues; gr 2 Feb 1258, by K Hen III to Peter de Etyngden (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 3). Granted by K Edw II to John de la Beche on 9 Nov 1318 (CChR, 1300–26, p. 392).
F (Charter) vfm, Nicholas (6 Dec); gr 2 Feb 1258, by K Hen III to Peter de Etyngden (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 3).
F (Charter) vfm, Peter and Paul (29 Jun); gr 9 Nov 1318, by K Edw II to John de la Beche (CChR, 1300–26, p. 392). To be held at the manor.

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