Burghs and marketplaces

King David I organised the people that lived around his castles by creating towns called Royal Burghs.

In this article you can find out:

Who King David I was
What a burgh was
Why burghs and marketplaces were built around castles
Types of goods sold at a Medieval market

This resource is suitable for Castles topics for P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 (First and Second Level Curriculum for Excellence).

Find out more about burghs and marketplaces in the video below.

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King David's burghs

Before King David I, there were no official towns in Scotland.
People would often set up houses near castles and they would make and sell things.
King David I decided to organise these groups of houses into royal burghs.
These burghs often had marketplaces where people could buy and sell things they grew or made.

Medieval markets

Click on the slideshow below to find out what people made and sold at burgh markets.

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Image caption,
Woodwork
Wood was one of the most common building materials in the Middle Ages. Craftsmen who worked with wood were called "carpenters". They made furniture and other objects from wood and sell them at the market.
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Metalwork
Someone who could make and repair metal objects was called a "blacksmith". Armour and weapons for soldiers, horseshoes and even simple objects like nails all had to be made by hand.
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Cloth
In Medieval times, most people wore plain clothing made from heavy woven wool to keep them warm during the winter. Linen, made from the flax plant, was also popular.
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Meat
Meat, like mutton and beef, would have been sold at the markets. There was no way of keeping meat fresh so people had to eat it quickly, often putting it in a thick stew called "pottage". Leftover meat was smoked or salted to preserve it.

Did you know...

The Cowgate in Edinburgh was named after the cattle which were sold at the markets there in 1428.
Cows were herded down the street on market days.
The word "gate" is a Scots word for "way" or "road".

Medieval homes

A graphic of a wattle and daub home and wheelbarrow of cow poo. — Image caption,
The homes around the castles were made from wattle and daub.

Not everyone could live in a big stone castle, the poorer people lived in small huts, made of wattle and daub.

Wattle and daub was woven wooden strips stuck together with wet soil, clay, or maybe even cow poo!

Test your knowledge

Create a poster for a medieval market

Imagine you have a stall at a medieval marketplace. You would like more people to visit the marketplace and buy your goods. Design an eye-catching poster encouraging people to visit the market.

You might want to ask yourself:

Where is the market? Is it near a royal castle?
When will the market take place? Medieval markets were usually held once a week.
How much does it cost to enter the market? Remember, King David I would charge people a to buy and sell at his markets.
What kinds of things can they buy there?

If you need some help designing a poster, take a look at this guide: How to make a poster