Edcheap

Edcheap in Lendert-with-Cadell.

Edcheap is a city square in central Lendert, Great Nortend. It lies entirely within the ward of Edcheap and is surrounded by numerous notable Lendert landmarks including St. Peter's Abbey and the High Exchange. Its name is believed to derive from the Old Anglic “ead” and “ceap” meaning “rich market”. It historically was the market for merchant goods such as wines, silks, cloth and other luxuries, whilst common produce was exclusively sold at the market at Woolhill three quarters of a mile to the west.

History

Originally the site where Edcheap stands to day was included in the lands of St. Peter's Abbey, in what was known as the “Stole”. By the 14th century, however, the Stole had been reduced significantly and much of the land within the walled city of Lendert was built over. The area around the east of St. Peter's became known for its merchants and traders, and Edcheap developed into a market where their goods were sold.

It, however, was not a large market square, being simply the natural intersection of Shippry, Halton Street and Lophert Streets. This would change in the 18th century when after the accession of Mary I, more monumental architecture was felt needed to project the power of the first female queen since the 11th century. Between 1748 and 1749, several entire tenements were demolished by order of Mary I to make way for an enlarged square. Amongst the buildings demolished was the 12th century church of St. Mark in Stole, a reminder of the area's more wooded past, whose congregation moved into a chapel built connected to St. Peter's Abbey.

It was designed by Sir Percival de Wrengham to be a permanent monument of the formal return in 1743 of the islands of Hastica to the Kingdom after they were seized by the Empire of Exponent in 1650 in the Battle of Hastica, a major victory for the young queen. In 1750, the Hastican Column, the 70 yard tall Doric column topped with a gilded winged figure of Mary I., was erected in the middle of Edcheap.

Overview

The christmas market at Edcheap.

Edcheap is roughly rectangular and is approximately 600 yards wide by 950 yards long, orientated 10° north-east. It is bounded on its south by Halton Street, on its east by Lophert Street. The junctions at the north-eastern and south-eastern corners of Edcheap are one of the busiest in the City. It square is paved in grey Hastican granite edged with black basalt. In its centre is the Hastican Column.

Many notable Lendert buildings line Edcheap. The most notable is the Church of St. Peter's Abbey, a Benedictine abbey and cathedral, the seat of the Abbot of Lendert and also the Lord Bishop of Lendert. It interestingly faces the west as in many ancient churches, rather than the mediaeval east. Thus, the East Facade and door of the Abbey faces directly onto the southern end of Edcheap. The Lendert Sessions Court and the High Exchange are situated opposite on the eastern side, across Lophert Street, whilst the halls of the Compagnie of Furriers and Compagnie of Vintners are on the northern and southern side respectively. The other establishments which face onto Edcheap include the Gaulton Hotel, Alexander Hotel and The Prince of Rhise Hotel, several high-end luxury merchants, as well as multiple townhouses.

Public use

A Corpus Christi procession in Edcheap.

Market

Edcheap has no longer hosted a weekly or permanent market since its creation as a public square in 1748. However, seasonal markets are regularly held in the square which are very popular, owing to its centrality and size. The most notable is the Christmas market, which historically supplied the traditional and expensive geese, peacocks or swans expected of at the Christmas dinner amongst the wealthier burgesses of the city after the Advent fast. To day, the Christmas market runs for a fortnight before Christmas until the end of Christmastide at Epiphany. Though geese, peacocks and swans, and other festive supplies, are still sold at the Edcheap Christmas market, it is also known for its stalls for hand-made or artisan Christmas ornaments and decorations, gifts, hampers and handicrafts, as well as stalls selling Christmas street food and beverages such as mulled wine, cinnamon puffs, fruitcakes, roasted chestnuts, baked potatoes and famously, marzipan and gingerbread.

Ceremonies

Edcheap is also used regularly for official or state ceremonies. It is a common site for large military parades, especially on King's Day when following a great procession around the city the Sovereign gives his annual speech in person. Other parades include regular regimental or battalion colour parades, the St. George's Day and St. Elmo's Day parades involving cadets of the King's Cadet Corps as well as the Royal Army and Navy Royal respectively, as well as the annual civic Lord Mayor's Michaelmas Parade involving the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Guildsmen of the City.

Being located in front of St. Peter's Abbey, Edcheap is also the site for many religious processions, which exit and enter the church here. Large and elaborate processions are conducted throughout the year on Rogation Days, Palm Sunday, Christmas Day, Epiphany, Circumcision, Easter, Passiontide, Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday, Roodmas, Corpus Christi and Ascension Day, as well as other days.