Medieval market town (12th to 15th centuries) Berkhamsted

tomb of henry of berkhamsted (who served under edward black prince @ battles of crécy , poitiers) , lady

the town became trading centre on important trade route in 12th , 13th centuries, , berkhamsted received more royal charters. in 1216, henry iii relieved men , merchants of town tolls , taxes everywhere in england, , english plantagenet possessions in france, normandy, aquitaine , anjou growing wool trade brought prosperity berkhamsted 12th century until tudor period. 4 wealthy berkhamsted wool merchants amongst group in bruges whom edward iii wrote in 1332, , berkhamsted merchants sold cloth royal court.

henry iii in 1217 recognised royal charter town s oldest institution, berkhamsted s pre-existing market. trades within medieval berkhamsted extensive: in 13th century town had merchant, 2 painters, goldsmith, forester, 2 farriers, 2 tailors, brewer of mead, blacksmith, carpenters, wood turners, tool makers, manufacturer of roofing tiles , wine producers. in mid–13th century, banker, wealthy abraham of berkhamsted, financier earl of cornwall, lived in town; unusual small town in time of heightened persecution of jews. in 1290, taxation list mentions brewer, lead burner, carpenter, leather workers, fuller, turner, butcher, fishmonger, barber, archer, tailor, cloth-napper, miller, cook, seller of salt , huntsman. @ time, larger houses of merchants , castle officials appeared on south side of high street (including 173 high street, oldest known extant jettied building in england). in 1307 berkhamsted large town estimated population of 2,000 2,500. in 1355, there 5 butchers, 2 bakers, 9 brewers, 2 cobblers, pelter, tanner, 5 cloth dyers, 6 wheelwrights, 3 smiths, 6 grain merchants, skinner , baker/butcher. in 14th century, berkhamsted (recorded berchamstede ) considered 1 of best market towns in country. in survey of 1357, richard clay found own butcher s shop twelve feet (four metres) wide, william herewood had 2 shops, , there 4 other shops 8 feet (two metres) in length. in 1440, there reference lime kilns.

the town benefited when edmund, 2nd earl of cornwall founded ashridge priory in 1283, 2 miles (three kilometres) town , within castle s park. @ foundation of abbey, earl donated phial claimed contain christ s blood. pilgrims on europe passed through town see holy relic. abbey grew quite wealthy result. edward held parliament @ abbey in 1290 while spent christmas in pitstone. berkhamsted burgesses sent 2 members parliament in 1320, 1338 , 1341, town not represented again. in mid-14th century, black prince took advantage of black death extend castle s park 65 acres (26 ha), producing park covering 991 acres (401 ha). in 15th century, town reaffirmed borough, royal charter granted edward iv (1442–1483), decreed no other market town set within 11 miles (18 km).

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