Markets & Maritime

This panel covers two aspects - the influence of Markets & Fairs on the left hand side and the Maritime aspects along the top and on the right hand side.

Markets & Fairs focus:

• Ale houses (ale was safer to drink than water!).
• Musicians, dancers, jugglers & jesters.
• Animals & corn to market.
• Blacksmiths.
• Towns developing around the markets 
  • Rayleigh market (1181), Rayleigh Trinity Fair (1227)
  • Rochford market and fair (1247)
  • Great Wakering market (1265) and fair (1200)
  • Shopland market (c.1257) but no fair.

Maritime focus:

• Boat building.
• Sea defences.
• Sheep farming on marshy islands.
• Fishing, oyster catching.
• Wading birds prevalent on coast, including avocets at Foulness & herons at Rawreth.
• Watermills.
• 1210 'sea defences' law created distinct named islands, e.g. Wallasea Island in 1229, Havengore Island in 1230, Foulness Island in 1235, Potton Island in 1244.