A market that has served Kirkby Stephen for more than 670 years is set for a major change next month, as the town looks to breathe new life into its struggling weekly market.
From Thursday 6 August, Kirkby Stephen's traditional Monday market will move to a Thursday in an effort to attract more traders, increase footfall and strengthen the town centre.
The move comes as weekly local markets, including in Penrith, have seen a significant decline in recent years, with many once-thriving markets now attracting only a handful of traders or disappearing altogether.
Like Penrith, Kirkby Stephen's market has historic roots stretching back centuries. The town's first Royal Charter was granted by King Edward on 16 October 1353, establishing a Friday market. That remained in place until 1605, when King James granted a new Market Charter changing market day to Monday. The market has continued ever since and is now managed by Kirkby Stephen Town Council rather than the Lord of the Manor.
Having survived wars, industrial change and centuries of social change, the market has struggled in recent years as shopping habits, technology have evolved.
During the Covid pandemic, Kirkby Stephen Town Council asked traders to stay away and, like Penrith Market, it has never recovered.
Today, Kirkby Stephen Market attracts just one or two regular anchor traders, who have told the Town Council they would prefer to trade on a Thursday.
Kirkby Stephen Town council says its research found that many traders who work weekends prefer to have Mondays free to rest and catch up with administration, while many customers have already completed their main weekly shopping by Monday.
Now, acting in its role as Market Authority, Kirkby Stephen Town Council hopes switching the market to Thursdays will encourage more traders to join its existing anchor traders and improve the vitality of the town centre.
Regular market trader Tracey Dinsdale of Tracey's Fruit & Veg said she is optimistic about the change.
"My customers have told me that they welcome the change and moving to a Thursday will mean a better stocked, fuller stall with more produce."
Kirkby Stephen Town Councillor Sandy Lancaster said action was needed to secure the market's future.
"As things stand the market isn't working well enough and we must do something. To help with the change and build trader participation the Town Council is offering a free pitch to new and existing traders for six months from 6 August.
"We will work with traders and townsfolk to review the impact of the change and to find ways to try and improve the market. If you have ideas that can help - please get in touch with us. It is very important that we give this ancient market the best future that we can."
To encourage traders, Kirkby Stephen Town Council is offering free market pitches for both new and existing traders for the first six months following the change.
Could Kirkby Stephen's attempt to reinvent its market provide a model for breathing fresh life into Penrith's once-bustling market and help increase town centre footfall to support local businesses?
Anyone interested in trading at Kirkby Stephen Market can contact the Town Clerk by emailing clerk@kirkby-stephen.com or calling 017683 74854 (Monday to Thursday).
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