Market

A market is held every Wednesday selling a wide range of goods. The market is Watton’s strongest link with the past.

Seville Oranges - CC Wells   Fresh Fruit and Vegetables by C C Wells   Fish by Routs of Wisbech

Fine Cheeses by The Cheese and Pie Man   Fine Pies by The Cheese and Pie Man

The Town Council is trying to encourage more stalls to the weekly market. To help achieve this, as from December 2023 fees for an initial 6 months have been reduced.

Current Market Pitch Fees:

Small pitch (up to 10sq metres) – Free of charge

Medium Pitch (up to 30sq metres) – £10.00

Large Pitch (up to 60sq metres) – £15.00

Charity Stallholders – One off pitch – free Regular Charity pitch – 50% of pitch charge

Subject to availability, included within the above price, the Town Council offers to provide a gazebo and table to be set up for each stallholder if required. *Please ask when applying*

If you are a trader and would like to have a stall on the market please fill out the  MARKET APPLICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT forms and return both to the Town Council offices along with a copy of your Public Liability Certificate and Food Hygiene Certificate (if relevant).

For further information please contact the Town Council offices on 01953 881007 or [email protected]

Please view Market Rules 2023 here

Brief History of Watton Market

The charter for the Market appears to have been granted in 1204 although there is no contemporary evidence for this. However, early historians, notably Blomefield, quote the Charter being granted to Oliver DeVaux:

Blomefield says in his ‘Essay Towards A Topographical History Of The County Of Norfolk’ (London, C1740) Volume II pp312 to 319. Extracted: “Watton Hall, or the head manor, came from the Fitz-Walters very early to the D’engaines, and went with Ada Dengaine to Robert de Vallibus, orVaux, her husband, who had livery of it in 1139, as of his wife’s inheritance, but did not descend to his son with the rest of his estate, being granted (as we must suppose) by him to Robert de Vaux, his uncle, upon his seating himself in Norfolk; at his death, William, his eldest son, succeeded, and left it to John de Vaux, his third son, who obtained a charter for a weekly market to be held in this  manor every Friday; but in 1204, there was a writ brought to enquire whether it was not prejudicial to the market of Saham, and it being found so, the charter was recalled; but before the expiration of this year, Oliver de Vaux having the manor conveyed to him by his brother, by his great interest with the King, obtained a new charter, in which the market was granted to be held every Wednesday, as it is at this day.