The Market Place in Masham on the Edge of the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale AONB

Don’t you just love a good market to wander round, there’s always something to tempt and if you visit Masham on a Wednesday or a Saturday there you will find the market stalls and what a market it is! On the first Sunday of every month throughout Spring and Summer there is also a Farmer’s Market. Did you know that Masham market place is one of the largest in England? There is also the Little Market Place off to the side where you’ll find the Town Hall and the Masham Community Office.

The main market place is surrounded by elegant Georgian dwellings with various shops discretely set amongst these wonderful buildings. Three gallery’s, café’s, sweet shops, a walking shop, three pubs and more. Apparently if you look carefully at The Kings Head you can just very faintly see the words Excise Office on the façade which dates back to the time when it was a coaching inn.  Seek out the blue plaque on the Community Office telling of Masham’s Lost Cemetery, the bones found were carefully reinterred in St Mary’s churchyard.

Originally though the market place would have been quite different with thatched cottages and the site for the annual Sheep Fairs with over 80,000 sheep being sold. Each year in September there is still the Annual Sheep Fair held in the market place albeit on a much smaller scale now. It was given its first market charter 1251 and has kept going ever since.

We have some beautiful cottages in Masham and surrounding areas, come and join us! Call me Nadine or my daughter Joanne on 01969 663559 to book your cottage over the telephone and for friendly help and advice or of course, book online if you prefer.  Hear from you quite soon!