12 Days Of Kirkham - 7 Market Stalls

This artwork can be seen at Pink Tree Parties on Poulton Street.

Kirkham - A True Market Town

In 1296 the Abbey of Vale Royal granted to Kirkham a charter, making its inhabitants free men with certain rights and privileges, making Kirkham a market town and free borough. It has had control of its own affairs ever since. The town has the right to hold a market and fair and to control trade and justice. Kirkham thus became a Seignoral Borough with a Charter from its Lord.

Whilst imagining scenes from this 700-year-old market may seem difficult today, there can be no doubt about the impact that this charter had on the town. Not only did Kirkham become the central meeting and trading place for the surrounding villages, but its very fabric was also forever altered by the granting of this charter.

The market square is an obvious sign of this, but look closer and you will discover that the street pattern, of four streets running from a central marketplace, the location of the church, and the size and shape of many of the modern plots of land in the town centre all have their origins in the Medieval period and are common to many market towns that developed in that period.

“We are proud to be the 7 days of Kirkham, representing the Historic Market. Maxine has created the perfect window to celebrate this.

Markets are so important for raising that community spirit. Each week people would don their best hats, get on the bus and come and meet their friends at Market Square . At Pink Tree we have also created that family feel, welcoming people back year after year to buy their balloons, we are very proud to have been doing that in Kirkham for 15 years.”

Paula Ardon-Gemmell – Pink Tree Parties

Artist: Maxine Lee-Mackie

Maxine Lee-Mackie is a Northwest based illustrator and designer, freelancing since graduating with a BA(Hons) in Digital Arts in 2004 and working part-time as a college art technician and a visiting lecturer in Graphic Design, Multimedia and Art.

Her inspiration comes from many people, places and things but has deep roots in fashion, children’s books and pop culture.

maxinelee.com
Instagram: @maxineleemackie

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