ANTIQUE 1928 ILLUSTRATION PRINT

‘A MARKET PLACE IN STUART TIMES’

PICTORIAL EDUCATION (LONDON)

ANTIQUARIAN & COLLECTABLES

PAPER & EPHEMERA | ARTS & PRINTS

SOCIETY | LEISURE | LIFESTYLE & CULTURE |

 FASHION & BEAUTY | HISTORY |

BRITISH | UNITED KINGDOM | STUARTS

Approx. 22 3/8 inches X 15 1/2 inches

 

ARTIST:

Drawn by Godfrey Merry

Drawn specially for PICTORIAL EDUCATION

 

PUBLICATION:

PICTORIAL EDUCATION

VOL. II NO. 12 DECEMBER 1928

EVANS BROTHERS LTD.

MONTAGUE HOUSE,

RUSSELL SQUARE

LONDON W.C.1

 

NOTES / OTHER DETAILS:

 

A MARKET PLACE IN STUART TIMES

By GODFREY MERRY

 

Although the seventeenth century was a time of

considerable political turmoil and religious strife,

people became better off,

wages increased, and the standard of living was raised.

   

The new and increasing trade with the Americas and with the Far East

brought into the country new commodities

which created new tastes

and provided the means of satisfying them.

  

Sugar and molasses from the Indies;

dried and salted fish from the Newfoundland Banks;

spices from the Far East;

raisins, almonds, ginger, oranges, and lemons

began to be seen in the city markets,

whence they gradually found their way to the market places in the country,

where they were laid out for sale side by side

with the local products

of field and farm, forest and fishery.

   

MARKET PLACE AND MARKET HALL

 

The picture shows a typical market place in a country

in the seventeent century.

It is an open space near the church,

and the old half-timbered town hall or market hall

stands near the centre of it.

 

Notice that some traders have their stalls

in the open space beneath the market hall-

the butchers, the grocers, the drapers, and the jewellers,

all with goods to sell that might, perhaps,

be spoiled in the open air and sunshine.

 

Many such market halls still exist to-day.

We sometimes find that the town hall

occupies the upper story. 

Vendors of fruit and vegetables, 

of fish and crockery,

have their stalls and booths in the open market place,

which will be cleared and thoroughly

washed down when the sales are over.

 

Notice the potato woman,

the fruit-seller, the fisherman’s boy,

the apple-woman,

and the gardener selling his cabbages.

 

VISITORS

 

The visitors to the market are interesting.

On th eleft is a fine gentleman-

perhaps the Lord of the Manor and his lady,

whose train is carried by a black slave from Vrginia,

or by a Moorish lad from Spain.

 

Notice the fine silks and laces,

and the gilded rapier of this gallant and his dame.

 

Striding in the opposite direction is a country gentleman-

perhaps an officer in the Army-

with his great sword slung from his baldric,

his plumed hat, long curls, and clouded cane.

 

Farther to the right, talking to the raisin-seller,

is one dressed in soberer garb-

unmistakably a Puritan,

with coat of severe cut and steeple-crowned hat. 

 

THE PILLORY

 

In the background is a man in the pillory,

which normally would be surrounded by a jeering crowd

hurling epithets and missiles at th eunfortunate prisoner,

whose head and hands are held immovable

by th ewooden “lock” of the pillory bar.

 

Notice, too, the rider who has come a long distance by road,

perhaps in attendance on his lady’s coach,

which can be seen towards the right of the picture,

going past old half-timbered houses,

such as one sees today in Mill Street, Warwick,

and other towns where lovely old Tudor buildings

still survive.

 

Near the steed of the horseman is the old market-cross,

whose steps are a place of vantage

for the butter-women, 

and the farmer’s wives, with eggs or cheeses for sale.

 

IMPORTANCE OF MARKETS

 

Try to imagine how important markets were.

Letters were few, newsapers hardly ever reached the country towns,

there were no telegrams, no broadcasting.

News from town was brought by the rare travellers.

 

The markets provided, every week at least,

an opportunity for the exchange of views,

for discussing politics,

and for learning what was going on in the country at large.

 

Notice, too, that the people in the country

were almost entirely dependent upon the markets

for everything they needed.

 

There were no railways,

and goods, if sent at all,

were very long in transit.

Perishable food had to be produced and sold locally,

for, except salt,

no means existed of keeping it fresh

for a length of time. 

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

 

This is 2-page SPREAD PRINT. 

 

This beautiful ANTIQUE FINE PRINT will look good FRAMED. 

 

It can be used as a TASTEFUL DECOR or as a teaching aid in FINE ARTS SCHOOL.

 

  

 

AVAILABLE HERE (EBAY.CO.UK)