A Merchant's Life for Me

Merchants were considered the ‘elite’ of towns and in an attempt to make it into the middle class structure parents paid a fine price to place a son within the care of a master craftsman as an apprentice. Here he would be fed, clothed, given lodging and instruction in the craft. This apprenticeship could last as long as seven years by which time he became classed as a journeyman - derived from the French word ‘journee’ meaning day - and paid daily for his efforts. Over a period of time the very best went on to be accepted in to the various Guilds; the Merchant Guilds and Craft Guilds controlled the entire practise of trading within the towns and this newly appointed ‘Master Craftsman’ usually went on to own his own shop.

With the increase of trading routes towns and cities became focal points for festivals and markets with the craftsmen throwing open their doors for custom “crying the wares” as their only means of advertising to the people, some times grabbing unsuspecting passers-by in an effort to make a sale.

England’s Medieval Festival boasts its very own ‘Market Day Celebrations’; stalls range from the authentically medieval with demonstrations given into the making of many of the displayed items within the Living History Encampments to Medieval Traders’ Row offering medieval related goods and Market Lane and the Craft Marquee where traders offer more contemporary handcrafts.