A number of the historic towns in the Epping Forest District have markets associated with them stretching back through history - the ‘Chipping’ of Chipping Ongar, for example, refers to the old English word for market place. The two most prominent today are those in Waltham Abbey and Epping and both have market charters from medieval kings, in the twelfth century from Richard I in the case of Waltham Abbey and in the thirteenth century from Henry III for Epping Town. Epping’s market was renowned for selling wives in its’ early days and Epping became the centre of trade including an important livestock market which continued right up until 1961.
Today these markets have been joined by popular farmer’s markets such as the one in Matching Tye and a large open-air market on North Weald...Read More
A number of the historic towns in the Epping Forest District have markets associated with them stretching back through history - the ‘Chipping’ of Chipping Ongar, for example, refers to the old English word for market place. The two most prominent today are those in Waltham Abbey and Epping and both have market charters from medieval kings, in the twelfth century from Richard I in the case of Waltham Abbey and in the thirteenth century from Henry III for Epping Town. Epping’s market was renowned for selling wives in its’ early days and Epping became the centre of trade including an important livestock market which continued right up until 1961.
Today these markets have been joined by popular farmer’s markets such as the one in Matching Tye and a large open-air market on North Weald Airfield. Epping market place also hosts occasional specialist fairs such as Italian and other nationality food events plus its annual Christmas Market.
All these markets are free to visit and those in the towns and villages offer the opportunity to support local sellers and producers and keep alive a tradition stretching back over hundreds of years.
Epping Market is on a Monday, Waltham Abbey Market is Tuesday and Saturday, Ongar Market has restarted on the first Sunday of the month and North Weald Market is on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Matching Tye Farmer’s Market is every third Saturday of the month. A new Farmer's Market has just begun at the White Hart Moreton on the morning of the second Sunday of the month. Currently Loughton Farmer’s Market is not operating but its is hoped to revive this in the near future along with the market at Debden.
For those interested in antiques and collectables, the Maltings in Lower Sheering (alongside Sawbridgeworth mainline railway station) offer several large antiques centres, all in one location and open all the year round.
There’s more about each market on this website – but nothing like experiencing them for yourself. And if you are an aspiring trader looking to start out, a market stall could be the ideal way to kick-start your business.
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