THE thriving Newton Abbot Market has reached a landmark anniversary this month, as it celebrates its ‘Octocentenary.’
The New Town of the Abbots – of Torre Abbey – was granted a market charter in 1220 to hold a weekly market on Wednesdays.
By 1300 the two settlements were renamed as Newton Abbot (taking the low ground) and Newton Bushel (taking the high ground).
On the strength of the market, it quickly became a successful thriving town and a good source of income for the abbots.
Over the river, on the Highweek side another weekly market was created.
This one ran on Tuesdays and because the Bushel family were the landowners this community became known as Newton Bushel.
Over the next 200 years Newton Bushel ran more annual fairs, a number of mills were set up and the leather and wool trades started.
Newton Bushel was also a convenient place for travellers to stay.
Torre Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and ownership of Wolborough was granted to John Gaverock who built himself a new house at Forde (Old Forde House – adjacent to the Teignbridge District Council headquarters).
The twin markets of Newton Abbot and Newton Bushel continued until they were merged in 1633 as a Wednesday weekly market under the ownership of Bradley Manor.
By 1751 there was also a smaller Saturday market and three annual fairs — a cattle fair on June 24, a cheese and onion fair in September and a cloth fair on November 6.
The markets continued to expand, and in 1826 a new marketplace was built.
Over the next 50 years, the buildings became dilapidated and were replaced in 1871 by a substantial new market.
The buildings included a Pannier Market, a corn exchange and a public hall — the Alexandra (now a cinema). The River Lemon was covered over.
Further enlargement took place in 1938, as a new cattle market and corn exchange were built.
Newton Abbot Market continues to thrive as both the indoor pannier market (open Mondays to Saturdays) and the outdoor market which takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Your safety comes first
NEWTON Abbot Market boasts the usual food and grocery stalls as well as more unusual finds, and offers a great selection of gifts and produce in the run-up to Christmas.
The market was closed during the initial period of lockdown from the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, but under government guidelines reopened its food stalls, with stall holders quickly responding to the new regulations to ensure public safety and meeting a local need for people unable to or anxious about using supermarkets.
Since then the market has now fully reopened and has been well supported by existing and new customers from the area.
Market Trader Joy Chiplin, from Market Electric and Sundries, said: ‘Life through the pandemic has been a very worrying time and we’ve had to change our practices to ensure we are covid compliant.
‘But the opportunities are endless when all this is over – who knows, we could once again have a thriving little business. Hopefully with all the new developments with Newton Abbot it will bring more trade to us as a market town and one of the few markets about. We hope to see a very busy happy atmosphere once again.
‘We are a market family and would love to see more traders, we are a friendly bunch and will help each other out.’
Jim Ashford, from Ashfords Fruit and Veg, said demand for deliveries throughout the covid period had increased to the point where they had to cap the daily delivery numbers in order to service the most vulnerable clients.
‘Safety at work meant keeping a very small team for progressing orders and delivery,’ he said.
‘This is ongoing and even though the market is fully open, safety is paramount.
‘There are more challenges than opportunities; infection spikes, illness, local lockdown could all be responsible for our not being able to trade, so we need to take nothing for granted.
‘We have already adapted our trading model to try and ensure survival commercially and to keep ourselves and our customers safe.
‘The regeneration plans for the town look good, let’s hope things improve for everyone.’