Medieval tradition returns for market's 500th year

Councillor Ross Irving said becoming the market's reeve was a great honour

A market will be celebrating 500 years of trading with a special event and the return of a centuries-old tradition.

Tunstall Market, in Stoke-on-Trent, had its first recorded trading day in 1525 and will mark the anniversary on 15 November with Tunstall 500.

The site will host entertainment throughout the day including indoor golfing, appearances from screen stars Bluey and Stitch, and live music from acoustic trio GPS.

The landmark anniversary will also be recognised with the revival of a role dating back to medieval times - the appointment of a market reeve, an official responsible for enforcing standards. The role will be taken up by the city's honorary custodian, councillor Ross Irving.

As part of the position's revival, Irving and the Leek town crier Bill Lomas have recreated the historical assizes - formal regulations used to govern the quality, weight and price of market goods.

Tunstall Market will hold a celebratory event to mark its 500th anniversary

"It is without a shadow of a doubt a great honour to be the first councillor to be appointed to this position," Irving said.

"I'm really pleased to be able to revive this age-old tradition as part of our city's centenary year."

Councillor Steve Watkins, lord mayor, will officially open the celebrations along with Mr Lomas and Stoke-on-Trent's centenary mascot Kelvin the Kiln.

Watkins said: "Markets have been at the heart of our communities for centuries and Tunstall 500 is a brilliant way to celebrate that history while looking to the future."