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Of Market Charters and Royal Assents

Ashton Market Charter

Greetings, Know that be our special grace we have granted to our beloved and faithful knight John de Assheton that he and his heirs for ever may have in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne in the county of Lancaster two fairs annually, namely one fair on the eve, the feat day, and the morrow of St. Swithen's, and the other fair on the eve, the feast day, and the morrow of St. Martin in the Winter, to be held in the said town forever, and that he and his said heirs may hold one market on Monday each week in the said town forever.

To hold to the same John and his heirs with all profits, franchises, liberties and emoluments due to or in any way relating or pertaining to a fair and market forever, provided that said fairs and market do not harm other neighbouring fairs and markets. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witnesses by myself at Lancaster the thirteenth day of February in the fourteenth year of our reign.

Stalybridge Market Act of Royal Assent

And be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners to make, erect, and build, or cause to be made, erected, and built, and from Time to Time for ever afterwards, keep in good Repair and Condition, within and for the said Town, One or more Market Place and Market Places, with such public and other Buildings as the said Commissioners shall think proper, and also all such Stalls, Standings, Shambles, Bulks, Sheds, Pens, and other Conveniences for the Sale of Meat, Fish, Poultry, Vegetables, Fruit, and other Provisions, and also for the Sale of live Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Corn, Grain, Seed, Flour, Marl, Hops, Hay, Straw, and other Produce of Land, China, Glass, Earthenware, and all such other Goods, Wares, Articles, Commodities, Matters, and Things as shall be brought there to be sold or disposed of, or as are usually sold or exposed to Sale in public Markets or Fairs; and from Time to Time to remove, enlarge, vary, and alter the Form, Situation, and Extent or the said Market Places, or any of them, and also to open and make all such Roads, Avenues, and Approaches to the said Market Places, or any of them, as the said Commissioners shall think fir; and to Conduits with proper Reservoirs and Cisterns within or need the said Market Places, and to lay down all necessary Pipes from the same, in and through the Streets, Lanes, Ways, Passages, or other Places, for the conveying Water for the necessary Pipes from the same, in and through the Streets, Lanes, Ways, Passages, or other Places, for the conveying Water for the necessary Supply of the said Market places; and also to do and perform all such other Acts, Matters, and Things as shall be deemed necessary or proper for the making, preserving, maintaining, and using the said Market Places, Buildings, Erections, and Things, according to the true Intent and meaning of this Act, or for the enlarging and further improving the said Market Places, Buildings, Erections, Shops, Stalls, Standings, Shambles, Bulks, Sheds, Pens, and Conveniences, and the same shall have been made, erected, opened, and completed as aforesaid.

Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That such Market Place or Market Places shall be erected and built within the distance of Four hundred Yards from a certain Public House within the said Town, called or known by the Name of the Angel Inn, and shall not afterwards be altered, removed, or varied to any other Place or Places within the said Town, signified in the Manner required by Law for the Regulation of Parish Vestries, at some public Meeting convened for the Purpose of considering the Propriety of removing the same Market Place or Market Places, and of which Meeting Twenty-one Days Notice at the least shall be given in the Manner herein-before directed for giving Notices under this Act.

And be it further enacted, That from and after the said Market Places, each or any of them, shall be build and completed, and opened for public Use as a Market or Markets as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners to have, hold and keep Markets thenceforth for ever upon such Days as they shall from Time to Time order and appoint; and also, be themselves, or any of their Collectors, Farmers, Officers, or Servants, to ask, demand, recover, receive, and take, of and from all and every Person and Persons exposing or offering for Sale or selling and Meat, Fish, Poultry, Vegetables, Fruit, and other Provisions, live Cattle, Sheep, Produce of Land, China, Glass, Earthenware, and other Foods, Wares, Articles, Commodities, Matters, and Things aforesaid, in any of the Markets aforesaid, and the weighing or measuring the same respectively, or who shall rent, use, or hire any Building, Shed, Stall, Standing, Bulk, Tressel, Block, or other Convenience, Standing Place, or Station in any of the said Markets, the several Tolls, Stallages, Rents, or Sum or Sums of Money mentioned and specified in the Second Schedule to the Act annexed; and Charter Statues, Usage, or Customer to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, and they are hearby authorized, from Time to Time to make, provide, constitute, and ordain such Rules, Regulations, Orders, and Bye Laws as they shall think fit and necessary for the good Government and Regulation of the Proceedings of the said Commissioners, and of all Officers, Servants, and other Persons to be employed by them under the Authority of this Act; and for the better regulating by them under the Authority of this Act; and for the better regulating, cleansing, letting, occupying, and using the said Markets and Market Places, or any of them, or any Part or Parts thereof; and also for the regulating all Carriers therein, and fixing and ascertaining the Rates and Prices for the carrying and conveying of all Articles carried and conveyed from the said Markets within the said Town; and for the appointing, trying, adjusting, regulating, and ordering of all Weights and Measures, according to the legal Standard used and to be used in the said Markets, and the Sale of all Corn, Grain, Provisions, and other Things in the said Markets by false and deceitful Weights or Measures; and also for preventing the Sale of or exposing to Sale any unwholesome Meat, Fish, or other Provisions in such Markets; and likewise for regulating and ordering all other Matters and Things which do or may concern or relate to the said Markets or any of them; and the said Commissioners may from Time to Time, as they shall think fit, repeal, alter, add to, or amend such Rules, Regulations, Orders, and Bye Laws, or any of them, and shall ascertain and therein set down what pecuniary ...

The Location of the Angel Inn in Stalybridge

#MarketCharter #RoyalAssent #HistoricalDocument #1828

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