A small Cornish town’s journey to becoming one of the most popular markets in the county.

It’s well-known that Redruth was once known as the mining capital of the world – a pretty hefty accolade! And whilst the town was once alive with the sounds of machinery and miners at work, it was also bustling with busy tradespeople and held a very successful and renowned market.

So how long ago are we talking? Well, Redruth’s royal recognition stretches back to the reign of King Edward III, when in 1334 the monarch granted the small town a charter for a twice weekly market. As the country’s monarchs changed through the centuries, charters for Redruth’s markets continued to be issued, both by Queen Elizabeth I in 1564 and King Charles II in 1660 where markets were regularly held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

After centuries of successful trading, in 1791 Redruth market was said to be ‘by far the largest in the county’. At this point the market stretched from near the Town Clock and all along Fore Street, before moving to a new location… The Buttermarket! Well, the market was so popular that it filled the sites of the Buttermarket, Market Way and right across the Fair Meadow car park.

After Francis Basset, Lord de Dunstanville paid the healthy sum of £1,000 to purchase the town market near the beginning of the 19th Century, prices on goods increased, and the site was occupied by townspeople protesting that against the unaffordable costs.

With pigs arriving in colossal numbers in the 1890s, Redruth market became known as the biggest pig market in the West Country! Redruth still holds regular markets, but don’t worry, you won’t stumble across any cows or pigs in the car park when you visit. What you will find is a tremendous selection of local arts and crafts and tasty homemade treats!