Over 770 years after Midsomer Norton was first granted the right to hold a weekly market by Henry III, the Town Council has backed the re-launch of the Thursday Market at West Clewes, Welton Rovers' football ground.
Although there has been a market at West Clewes for the last 25 years, it has declined in recent years, largely due to a lack of investment and promotion. Beginning with a grant of £500 to purchase banners and new signage and the decision to purchase market stalls, the Town Council is hoping to breathe new life into the Thursday Market.
"The West Clewes site is ideal for a market, now that the car park has been resurfaced. Shoppers can pop in, park, shop and soon be on their way, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. – whether on their way to work, or just popping into town. Already the number of stalls is increasing, offering goods ranging from fresh vegetables, meat, bread, pastries and cakes, to pot plants and hardware. Over the coming months, we hope to attract more stalls, but still leaving space for people attending the market to park," said market stallholder of 26 years, Andy Payne.
However, the strategy reviving the market has much more behind it than nostalgia. Market stalls have been shown to expand a town's retail offering to local shoppers. In addition, being able to hire a stall for a day offers an excellent opportunity to encourage new retailers to start new businesses or relocate to the town, who might in time grow and develop to take leases on empty shop premises.
The newly-launched Thursday Market will be managed by the Midsomer Norton Community Trust on behalf of the Midsomer Norton Recreation Ground Trust, which holds the West Clewes Recreation Ground in charitable trust for the benefit of local residents. In this way, any surplus income can be ploughed back to help improve facilities at West Clewes for the benefit of the community.
In addition, work is already in hand to build on the monthly Farmers' Market in The Hollies, which recently celebrated its tenth birthday. As well as the new Vintage Market, it is hoped to attract two more markets in order to achieve a Saturday market in the town every week.
Anyone interested in having a stall at the Thursday Market or running a market or having a stall in The Hollies – please contact Alex at the Midsomer Norton Community Trust on: 01761 419133 or email: manager@midsomernorton communitytrust.co.uk