Enfield Market celebrated 700 years of trading in
2004. The market as we know it today was established in 1618 by a Royal
Charter granted by James I for the benefit of the poor in the Ancient Parish
of Enfield. The charter rights relate to the Saturday market but the history
of Enfield Market dates back even further than this. In 1303 the right to
hold a market on Mondays was granted by King Edward I to Humphrey de Bohun,
Lord of the Manor of Enfield and his wife the Countess of Holland. The
market's history at this stage was somewhat chequered, sometimes the market
ran regularly and thrived but at other times, especially during periods of
war, it fell away and the Market Place became renowned for having crowds of
children there annoying local residents. In January 2002 history came full
circle with the re-introduction of a Monday market which is now a firm
favourite with Monday shoppers. On 15th October 2003 the Queen accompanied
by the Duke of Edinburgh unveiled a commemorative plaque to celebrate the
700th anniversary of trading in Enfield Market. Visitors to the market can
now see the plaque set in the floor of the Market House at the centre of the
Market Place.
The Saturday Market, now nearly 400 years old and those on Thursdays and
Fridays are a major attraction in the heart of Enfield Town Shopping Centre.
At Christmas the market operates all week. The Market and Market Place
continue to be run by the charity and it is believed to be the only Charter
Market run by a charity in the whole of the country. The Market caters for
both long term and casual traders with up to 96 stalls each day. A wide
variety of goods is sold, including fruit, vegetables, meat, clothing,
household goods, linen, plants and flowers, watches and clocks, jewellery,
bric-a-brac, haberdashery, soap, bags and luggage, books, tapes, CDs,
sportswear etc. The rents from the stalls are used to fund grants for needy
residents of the Ancient Parish of Enfield.