Travel with Me: Romford Market | Over 760 Years of Distinctive Trade History in Southern England.

Romford Market | Over 760 Years of Distinctive Trade History in Southern England.

Colourful, lively, curious and at the same time charming, Romford Market with over 760 years of distinctive trade history in Southern England is certainly a great attraction in its kind located in a town with the same name part of the Borough of Havering in the County of Essex at just 27, 0 kilometres from Central London, pretty close to the Eastern boundaries of the British major centre, not far from Stratford, that famous site which was seat of the Olympic Games celebrated in 2012 and today a very busy hub for shopping and leisure.

The proximity and a fast connection by train in a journey enduring approximately twenty minutes it is undoubtedly a good chance to visit in a full day also that place which hosted that famous sporting event with the opportunity to admire the Stadium and the structures which were protagonists in an edition considered one of the best all time.

That captivating attraction developed along a vibrant and busy street with over 260 stalls is considered since a long time ago one of the largest and iconic markets of the entire Great Britain well known for its historic past and prestige, symbol of an active secular commercial tradition which is still alive than ever extremely rooted in the local culture and representing in its kind a sort of icon with a bustling spirit which will never die.

That emblematic place is nowadays greatly characterised by a very vibrant atmosphere with an indisputable fascination offering the chance to find quality clothing at reasonable prices, as well as food, books, old records, Cd's, shoes, garden plants, flowers, household items, electronics, jewelry interesting old vintage articles and memorabilia of the oldest fascinating England.

All that delights many visitors who can always have the chance to see an ample and varied choice of different kinds of things some of them very rare and interesting to buy without hesitations.

Romford Market also has a long and interesting history to narrate, it is the largest and most traditional market of the historical County of Essex established in the boundaries of a municipality which historically was since the 6th century a notorious Saxon stronghold, part of a Kingdom founded by Æscwine or Erkenswine, first King of those ancient settlers and later a beloved land by the British Monarchy.

In Medieval times it was already a popular destination since 1247 thanks to the establishment of a former busy sheep market arranged in the current Market Place corresponding to the current long artery which vertically crosses the beating heart of the town.

Since that period that significant site became one of the most important trade streets developed at the border of Greater London with several merchants coming from different areas of of the British Capital such as Clapham, Greenwich, West Ham, Canning Town, Barking, Dagenham, Ilford and the previously mentioned Stratford.

Due to that massive affluence and popularity gained year by year in a very short time that market place enlarged its size also because in the meantime there was a constant expansion in terms of new busy routes to with relevant traffic of goods towards Colchester, Cambridge and including leading to the English Southeastern coastline reaching the current seaside town of Southend-on-sea and its immediate surroundings.

Soon the name and notoriety of Romford Market reached many other corners of England becoming a core and hub of British trade and commerce of extreme relevance with numerous traders coming from other counties such as Kent, Suffolk, Berkshire, Hertfordshire,Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire.

With its increasing resonance that site started to have a notable reputation covering a very large and relevant geographic territorial influence on a very strategic route which includes iconic historic sites of extreme importance such as Windsor, Rochester, Canterbury and Oxford among others.

In the 13th century Romford Market originally depended on the trading of sheep but the distance they could walk in a day was a crucial factor in deciding whether the town had the right to hold a market.

King Henry decided to grant a derogation with the permission to hold a commercial activity every Wednesday as an outlet for the notorious nearest Hornchurch leather trade centre and under the old laws no other market was allowed to establish within approximately a distance of 10, 0 kilometres from that trade site.

In the course of its history with a further expansion of its business other products started to be sold and that operation led by that clever Monarch generated a more than profitable further development with beneficial results for the local merchants.

The town in addition successfully fought for the implementation of other markets against those legal spaces obtaining its own area. That place is also particularly famous all around England because it was also a subject dispute of a legal case in 1726 called "Keech vs. Sandford" an event which reached an extreme popularity in Great Britain and linked to the foundational cases of English trust law on the fiduciary duty of loyalty related to the conflict of interests.

In the 60's Romford Market hosted along its surface about 80 stalls, in the 80's more than 150 and today those arranged along Market Place are approximately 260 or more offering a vast range of articles and calling a multitude of locals and visitors always searching something of attractive and also pretty convenient in terms of prices.

For its appearance and location, vertically arranged along a wide and perpendicular long street lined by buildings erected in different historic periods it could be compared to the famous markets of Petticoat Lane of London or Great Homer Street of Liverpool despite it jealously preserved its own strong identity so unique in its kind.

For many people who know that renowned place and all those who are experts regarding emblematic British Markets that site is considered one of the best in the entire country for atmosphere, location, variety of articles, rare vintage items displayed and history too.

Referring to the latter, that is a relevant detail which increases the prestige of Romford Market consisting in its historic value related to its date of foundation with over seven centuries of life, a date to take in high consideration in terms of ranking, classified for its age in the iconic secular elite, as a pioneer of a distinctive trade history born and developed in Southern England.

The market thanks to its prestige and its secular history is often indicated in local tourist guides and cultural publications as historic point of interest of Essex elevating itself as a sort of monument in its kind making it a special tourist attraction of relevance.

In addition it also conquered the Film Industry when it was selected as set for some scenes of the Film The Prodigy's a music video track starring Chris Kamara, former professional footballer who played for several clubs such as Leeds United, Stoke City and Luton Town and currently presenter at Sky Sport.

It is celebrated every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8.00 am until late and also every bank holiday on Monday and it is a great experience for every visitor to discover and know it without hesitations, firstly because it is something of extremely legendary, a site which made in its kind the history of a considerable county and of an important country and furthermore for its very bustling and animated atmosphere highly captivating and appealing which is certainly an additional attraction.

Packed by several stalls offering a wide range of products including fresh meat, vegetables and fruit, for many people Romford Market is also the right place offering very good opportunities to enjoy a gastronomic shopping avoiding queues in the increasingly crowded super markets and in addition once there having a coffee in one of the several bars flanking that lively street market.

Very busy all year and all days when it takes place, it is also a special destination at Christmas time with its coloured and special Christmas Market, a notable attraction which calls many people from all over Essex, other Counties and many areas of Greater London too. The lights, a characterful festivity air encircling it are undoubtedly part of a sort of magic aura which increases furthermore the charm and image of that historic site in that period.

In an enjoyable walk along that very animated long hallway is also very pleasant to observe the high spirit of patriotic identification of the local traders and vendors who have their stalls adorned by British flags giving a very marked identity to the entire environment and in addition in many of them you may notice a wide range of items with reference to the famous Football Club West Ham United.

That special presence is due to that the town is a kind of stronghold of supporters and fans of that glorious Sporting Institution, a love and a passion linked to cultural and also geographical reasons.

Just 5, 0 kilometres away in a centre called Chadwell Heath is located the training centre of the Club while Upton Park, the famed Stadium also known as Boleyn Ground built in 1904 in which plays that historic Club founded in 1895 is just 25 minutes away by train.

Really impressive is the presence of different objects linked to such glorious Soccer Institution, such as shirts, hats, scarves, towels, flags and much more closely related to that East Londoner Club in which played unforgettable figures who wrote some of the most important pages of the history of English Football such as Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Billy Bonds, Martin Peters and Trevor Brooking.

They were all former players of The Academy, a nickname of West Ham characterised by its philosophy to form players in quantity and quality ready to play at professional level.

West Ham United is sort of Football University in its kind and those iconic figures previously mentioned were footballers born and bred in the Club certifying the outstanding production of talented players of the Hammers as are identified with that nickname all the fans and supporters linked to that Sporting Entity which has as symbol those objects.

In that Club in more contemporary times started his career Frank Lampard, famous former Chelsea player who in addition was born in Romford and also his father Frank Lampard Senior played for that famed London Football Institution for many seasons.

In the case you are a fan or simply interested about English football items you can buy in Romford Market something linked to that notorious Club including you can sometimes find some memorabilia such as commemorative pennants, old pictures, pins, an excellent chance for who is a collector and vintage lover.

In 2007 Havering Council decided a re-development of the market changing the layout and permitting in 96 Market Street the presence of more stalls selling more variety of goods.It was certainly a new positive proposal conserving the old always appreciated and adding in an innovative way something of new attracting more and more people with the chance to buy a larger variety of items.

Flanking the market stalls you can find a good variety of cafes, bakeries, bars and shops, the Hall Romford Shopping with over 40 retail units, a couple of reminiscent Tudor buildings, a Historic Pub The Bull and the beautiful Neo-Gothic Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the iconic figure of St. Edward the Confessor.

That majestic Sacred site is certainly a great attraction dominating the entire setting, dated the 19th century it was erected on the foundations of previous one dated the 15th century and according to historic information on Thursday 19th September 1850 the present Religious temple was officially consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester.

That imposing and beautiful Ecclesiastic complex was developed on a large irregular rectangular plan characterised in its marvellous exterior layout by fine architectural lines and notable artistic details greatly visible in the majestic tower which is definitely the main highlight consisting in a beautiful replica representing a magnificent traditional example of Neo-Norman-Gothic architecture in Southern England completed by a long and scenic spire dominating the entire Market Place.

That kind of superb and stylish British Gothic revival was pretty common in those times all around the country as result of a new school which born to revalue the medieval architecture in modern key which had in Essex a notable base of development.

All that is greatly confirmed in many significant artistic details with a refined execution of an impressive decorated portal reminiscent the most stylish architectural masterpieces erected in England in the Middle Ages with also splendid large mullioned windows and defined outlines especially in correspondence of the nave at the entrance.

The interior is equally stunning and it deserves a very recommended visit with the chance to admire wonderful Victorian stained glass windows, magnificent octagonal columns boasting fine carved capitals and you will notice other great highlights as a perfect symmetry of the arcades and a superb elaborated wooden ceiling.

On the same street side of that splendid Church as further special local detail you will see on a wall some framed photos in black and white representing scenes of Romford Market in different periods of its history until present day.

It is very interesting in that sort of small outdoor exhibition to observe the mutations from those far distant times comparing some architectural changes developed in the most contemporary era. All that is undoubtedly an attraction more showing the visitor in a sort of jump in the past the old images of an icon which continues to be alive in the 21th century.

At the end of Market Place crossing a tunnel leading to Romford Library you can see a plaque depicting the name of the German town of Ludwigshafen and that because Romford is twinned with that famous German centre in the Rhineland-Palatinate which is well known to be the birthplace of the former chancellor Helmuth Kohl and seat of Basf, the largest chemical producer in the world.

I added some links and recommended Hotels below if you want to know more and to take in consideration that place also for a stay if you are planning a tailor made tour visiting Essex placing that site as stage filling your itinerary with something of extremely significant boasting an indisputable historic value and in the meantime with the chance to visit other beautiful places such as Bedfords Park, Havering-atte-Bower and much more.(I wrote posts regarding those two sites in the case you are interested)

Romford is easily reachable by train from London from Liverpool Street and Stratford Stations in about 20 minutes and its strategic geographic position is perfect for a Fly & Drive in the case you land at Stantsted Airport which is just 40 minutes away driving.

The historic Romford market with its over 760 years of distinctive trade history in Southern England, very active and famed medieval commercial hub is today a busy and colourful street market which worth a visit all year, the joyful and scenic atmosphere highlighted by several colours, a large variety of stalls placed along an eternally bustling urban space form all together a more than captivating scenery.

That site is a perfect place to enjoy a pleasant time breathing the traditional air and aspect of the present remembering in a walk a glorious secular past of a lively market, a unique experience very recommended and highly suggested during your future trips visiting Great Britain enjoying an iconic, true and memorable site not far from the beautiful London.

Francesco Mari