Aspley Guise Market and Fair

Aspley Guise does not strike one as a market town. Nevertheless Volume III of The Victoria County History for Bedfordshire, published in 1912 notes that in 1267 Lord of the Manor Anselm de Gyse obtained a charter to hold a market every Friday and a fair on the vigil (the day before) and the feast of Saint Botolph, after whom the church is dedicated and on the following days. Saint Botolph's day was 17th June.

Anselm's grandson, also Anselm, claimed these privileges in 1331. It is not known where the market and fair were held. The Square smight seem the most likely place but it is not even known whether the streets were laid out in the 13th and 14th century as they are now. Daniel and Samuel Lysons in their Magna Britannia volume on Bedfordshire, published in 1813, stated that both market and fair were long since discontinued.