Romford Market

Romford Market is a large outdoor retail market located in Romford in the London Borough of Havering, England. The market right was established by royal order in 1247. Rival markets are prohibited within 6.66 miles (10.72 km). Governance of the market was strengthened by the 1465 charter of the Liberty of Havering, which was administered from a court house at the western end of the market. Formerly a livestock and agricultural market, cattle was last sold in 1958. The market has been in local authority ownership since it was purchased by the Romford Local Board in 1892 and is now owned by Havering Council. The marketplace was located on the main east–west road through the town until traffic was diverted away from the market in 1969. The market is promoted as a filming location. It is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There was a Sunday market from July 2020 to March 2024. As of July 2020 it has 60 licensed traders, down from a peak of over 300.

It originated as a sheep market that was operating by 1247. The market right on Wednesdays was established by royal writ in 1247, although no charter was issued. Under common law no other market is permitted to set up within a day's sheep drive, which is taken to be 6.66 miles (10.72 km) from the marketplace.

The 1247 market right did not provide for the governance for the market. By the 15th century, it had become popular with buyers and sellers from the City of London and other areas outside of Havering, who were beyond the authority of the manorial court and therefore outside of its powers of enforcement. This caused the prominent families in Havering to seek new rights in a charter in 1465. The manor gained status as the Liberty of Havering, with paid officers including a clerk of the market. A court house (also known as the market house) was located at the western end of the market. This housed the clerk of the market and other liberty officers.

Reflecting the change in focus of the town towards the market, the Church of St Edward the Confessor was built to the north of the marketplace around 1410.

The market was famous for leather goods by the 15th century, which were manufactured in Hornchurch and Romford. Havering residents were exempt from tolls to use the market, which were being charged by 1619.

The market is the subject of a 1726 legal case called Keech v. Sandford. This is one of the foundational cases of English trust law, on the fiduciary duty of loyalty.

In 1819 improvement commissioners were set up for the market place and principal streets of the town. They were empowered to levy rates for paving, lighting, watching, and cleansing. The church was rebuilt in 1849/1850 and was designated as a listed building in 1952, with the adjacent 15th/16th century Church House.

The market was the property of the Crown until 1828, when the manor of Havering was sold to Hugh McIntosh. On his death in 1840 it passed to his son David McIntosh. When David died in 1881 it passed to his widow, Charlotte McIntosh. Romford Local Board made several unsuccessful attempts to lease the market from Charlotte McIntosh between 1882 and 1887. There was a legal dispute between them in 1887 about the location of a weighbridge in the market, which the local board believed was blocking a right of way. McIntosh won the case. In 1889 the local board turned down an offer to lease the market, claiming that it was in decline. The opening of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway stations at Dagenham, Hornchurch and Upminster in 1885 had made it easier to reach Barking Market from those communities.