England's Medieval Festival boasts its very own Market Day Celebrations - trading stalls range from the authentically medieval with demonstrations being done within the Living History Encampments; to Medieval Traders' Market, offering medieval related goods; and the Market Lane & the Craft Marquee where traders offer more contemporary handcrafts.
The following is a list of some of the Traders & Craftsmen who will be attending the Festival this summer:
Harmony Crystals
| 1066 Creations |
| A Piece of History |
| Aelfgyfu Searocraft |
| Ancient Battle Craft |
| Anderida’s Secrets |
| Angela De Berka |
| Ania Marczyk |
| Arma s.c. D.M.Maciejko |
| Art Pol |
|
| Bad Ceramics |
| Bluewaymusic |
| Bohemia Beauty |
| Brian Tassinari |
| Clive Buckle |
| Company of Chivalry |
| Douggie the Wood |
| Drunken Monk |
| Fairbow and Pottery 2 |
| George Mudford & sons ltd |
| Golden Fleece Trading Comp |
| Handmade Things |
| Hazlewood |
| Heart of Stones |
| Hedgewitch |
| House of De Clifford |
| Jerky Meister |
| John of Gaunt and Lady Helen |
| Kasto Armourie |
| Lathe & Loom |
| Longeaton of Sellwood Forest |
| Madhammers |
| Magicmead |
| Maidenshair Mead |
| Mary & Brian Jupp |
| Medieval Art |
| Mike the Hat |
| Minstrel's Rest |
| Miroque |
|
| MrsJo |
|
| Needwood Tree |
| Noctule |
|
| Noctule |
|
| Peter Faulkner |
| Phil Fraser |
| Phil Senior |
| Pilgrams Pottery |
| Roo the Leathercarver |
| Saljolouka |
| Sally Pointer |
| Sand Sirens |
| Shoot and Scapa |
| Shropshire Lavender |
| Simon Lister |
| Snapdragon |
| Spellbound Supplies |
| Spirit of the Fens Leather |
| Stagman Creations |
| The Green Man |
| The Peddler |
| The Unfound Door |
| Tillerman Beads |
| Time Warrior |
| Topferbaron |
| Tori Horner |
| Traders of History |
| Underwoodsman |
| Unlicht |
|
| Viking Kristall |
| Waterloo Farm Pottery |
| Woodarticle |
| Wyrd Sister |
|
| Acrobat & Buffoonery |
| Bewitched |
| Bliss |
|
| Castle Carriages |
| Clan Jewels |
| Ditchling Common Stud |
| Dragonfly Totnes |
| Faeries's Touch |
| GemMania |
| Het Narrenschip |
| History In Brass |
| Jepun |
|
| Karma Suitsya |
| Lion Designs London |
| Mandys Must Haves |
| Matthews Mouse Town |
| Mirage Design |
| Natures Harvest |
| Our Style |
|
| Pots of Passion |
| Pyba |
|
| Simon Kemp |
| The Hay Clinic |
| The Lamenting Wolf |
| The Lion and The Unicorn |
| The Name Shop |
| The Paper Jewel |
| Under Capricorn |
| White Rock Theatre |
| Woopsbuni Enchanted Gifts |
Traders (Merchants) were considered the elite of towns, and in an attempt to make it into the middle class structure parents paid a fine price to place a son within the care of a master craftsman as an apprentice. This apprenticeship could last as long as seven years by which time he became classed as a journeyman - derived from the French word journee meaning 'day' - and paid daily for his efforts. Over a period of time the very best went on to be accepted in to the various Guilds - the Merchant Guilds and Craft Guilds controlled the entire practise of trading within the towns, and this newly appointed Master Craftsman usually went on to own his own shop.
With the increase of trading routes towns and cities became focal points for Festivals and Markets, with the craftsmen throwing open their doors for the custom of 'crying the wares' as their only means of advertising to the people; and some times grabbing unsuspecting passers-by in an effort to make a sale.
