Released with Early Modern England Encyclopedia 1.0a
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Early Modern England Encyclopedia
By Jason Stott, inspired by
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During the Elizabethan era, England had an estimated 800 markets, with about 18 of those in the greater London area. The markets were primarily a source of food for those living in the city and a common weekly trip for residents of suburban and rural areas. Many city dwellers worked in commerce and trade, and all of them needed to buy all the food they ate, goods they used, and clothing they wore. Rural inhabitants shopped at markets to purchase goods that their own land or industry did not produce.
For London residents, the many markets provided a wide selection of food, products, and services. London had a large population of approximately 200,000 people in 1600, making it one of the largest cities in Europe. Trade had rapidly expanded both in size, scope, and wealth as London doubled to this size between 1550 and 1600. This growth attracted many merchants, artisans, laborers and even actors from all around Europe. London’s diversity and prosperity also provided artists and playwrights with inspiration, influence, and opportunity. This was a time of increased world exploration, and with every newly discovered land or established trade route came new goods to be traded in London markets.
As London became a European center of commerce, many new industries emerged or were elevated to prominence. Printing, for example, was a broadening industry at the time, creating opportunity for the monetization of art and performance. Many other trades also benefitted from London’s growing wealth, with the industries that catered to the desire to show status through clothing and other items for personal display thriving.
Markets were a bustling center of activity. Scattered open vendor stalls set up on market days filled open squares of fields, with walkways forming lanes. One such market that remains even to this day is the Borough Market, which is situated a short distance from where the Globe Theatre once stood and the nearby site where its functioning replica stands. Food historians are confident that playwrights like Shakespeare who lived and worked in the Bankside neighborhood shopped at the Broad Street Market that evolved into today’s Borough Market.
With the crowds came noise. Beyond the clanking, murmuring, yelling, and overall exuberance of the marketplace, the sound of music permeated the air. With money to be made, wandering musicians and singers called minstrels could be heard performing, possibly with ballad sellers hawking printed versions of the songs nearby. The street cries remade into song by the Elizabethan court composer Orlando Gibbons give some idea of the bustle and variety of London’s markets:
The aroma of markets was likely varied and ever present, with fish and meat markets offering the pungent odors associated with their products along with dung and blood of the living animals that were often slaughtered onsite. But more pleasant smells were also present, with stalls selling bread, pies, roasted meats, warmed nuts, and the fragrance of fruit as well the smell of fresh vegetables.