Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Medieval Confirmation of the Gild Merchant Charters

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Date:1344 - 1378 (c.)

Description:Newcastle was granted a ‘Gild Merchant Charter’ by King Henry III in 1235.
A charter is a formal document granting rights given by a king or queen written by clerks in the royal chancery.
The original charter has been lost but this wording appears in the 'Calendar of Charter rolls, 18 September 1235:
“Grant to the burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme that the said town shall be a free borough, and that the said borough shall have a gild merchant therein, with all liberties and free customs thereto belonging, and that they shall go through all the land with all their merchandises buying and selling and trading in peace, freedom, and honour, quit of toll, pontage, passage, stallage and lastage and all other customs, saving the liberty of the city of London.”

Newcastle became a borough in 1173 Newcastle-under-Lyme and it grew into an important centre of trade.
In 1235 Henry III granted the townsmen the right to a Gild (or guild) Merchant (a merchant is a person involved in business or trade).
Members of the guild controlled the town’s trade.
The charter confirmed their right to buy and sell goods.
They traded all over the country (except the city of London) without having to pay taxes.

Members of the guild merchant paid a fee to became freemen of the borough (burgesses).
Over time some members became involved with running the town.
The first meeting place for the Gild was St. Giles’ Chapel.
A ‘Gild Hall’ was first mentioned in 1389.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1590s
Queen Elizabeth I Charter of Incorporation, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Queen Elizabeth I Charter of Incorporation, Newcastle-under-Lyme

During the Medieval and Tudor periods many towns received a Charter of Incorporation. A ...

1660s
King Charles II Charter of Extended Rights, Newcastle-under-Lyme
King Charles II Charter of Extended Rights, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Parliamentarians executed King Charles I in 1649. England had no king and became ...

1680s
King James II Charter of Extended Rights, Newcastle-under-Lyme
King James II Charter of Extended Rights, Newcastle-under-Lyme

In 1684 King Charles II forced Newcastle to surrender all its charters. Charters ...

1830s
Cartoon study for the 'Mock Mayor' of Newcastle-under-Lyme
Cartoon study for the 'Mock Mayor' of Newcastle-under-Lyme

Oil on board depicting cartoon detail of images that were considered by the artist ...

1850s
Newcastle-under-Lyme Board of Health Drainage Works Plans
Newcastle-under-Lyme Board of Health Drainage Works Plans

These plans were drawn up by Lee and Stevenson, Civil Engineers from London in 1853. They ...

1870s
John Gallimore, Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme
John Gallimore, Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme

John Gallimore, wearing robes and chains of office. Gallimore was Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme ...

1900s
The Guildhall, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Guildhall, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The Guildhall in Newcastle-under-Lyme was built in 1713 to replace an earlier timber ...

1920s
George V and Queen Mary visit Newcastle-under-Lyme, View of High Street
George V and Queen Mary visit Newcastle-under-Lyme, View of High Street

George V and Queen Mary visited Newcastle as part of a visit to north Staffordshire ...

1950s
Mayor Choosing Ceremony for Edward Bond, Market Cross, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Mayor Choosing Ceremony for Edward Bond, Market Cross, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The Mayor Choosing ceremony is a tradition in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The newly ...

1970s
Newcastle Market, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle Market, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle Market by J.W. Griffiths is a very colourful and lively streetscene with ...

2000s
The Guildhall, Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Guildhall, Newcastle-under-Lyme

This watercolour by Alf Fallows was painted in 2001 and offers a nostalgic view ...

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Image courtesy of: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Donor ref:Nm.2016.7 (R), Nm.2016.8 (R), Nm.2016.10 (R) (22/49635)

Source: Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.