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Food Glorious Food If you are a lover of excellent food, grown by traditional methods, then a visit to the monthly Farmers’ & Producers’ Market at Ashton-under-Lyne is a must. Meet the actual producers and ask them the questions you want answered about production methods. Then, try the products – food the way it used to taste. And maintaining the strict own-production criteria, a wide range of locally produced art and craft goods are also on offer on the last Sunday of each month. Watch out for chef demonstrations, street entertainment and craft workshops.

The range of products now includes, Venison, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Poultry, Ostrich, Fresh Fish, Smoked Fish, Cheeses from 5 Counties, Herbs and Spices, Chutneys and Preserves, Honey, Pies, Cakes, Biscuits, Fruit and Fruit Juice, Salads and Vegetables including unusual varieties of Potato Wine, Sarsaparilla/Dandelion & Burdock/Root Beer, Home Bake, a huge range of Sausages, Pasta products, prepared Ethnic Dishes, Ice Cream and Dairy Products and Eggs. Non-food and Craft offerings range from Plants and Bonsai to Doll's Houses, Hand Made Babywear, Hand Crafted Greetings Cards, Garden Furniture and Ornaments and many, many others, including the work of 3 local artists.
		All the products have one thing in common - The people selling them are the people who grew, reared, caught or made them. Many of our traders belong to North West Fine Foods, an organisation set up to promote the production, distribution and consumption of food in the North West of England. Many of their aims are similar to our own, so, we joined. Previously voted the NFU’s Best Farmers’ Market in the Region, readers of the Observer Food Monthly voted Ashton the Best Farmers’ Market in the North West 2005.
The Farmers' & Producers' Market will continue to take place on the last Sunday of each month throughout the year, with the exception of December (the last Sunday before Christmas), when there are special pre-Christmas Craft and Food markets taking place. Twice a year in Spring and autumn, market traders travel from all over Europe to take part in Ashton’s 3 day Continental Markets. 120,000 shoppers regularly visit these very popular events.

21st. Century Market

In Ashton-under-Lyne just to the east of Manchester, the Lord of the Manor, Sir Thomas de Assheton, was granted a King's Charter to hold a market in 1284, for his services to the crown. Situated, as it was, in a rural area, the market became a focus of the local community. Sir Thomas's less noble relative, Sir Ralph de Assheton, later became famous in the area for his mis-deeds. Known widely as "The Black Knight", Ashton still celebrate their infamous predecessor in the annual Black Knight Pageant weekend each year.

A stained glass window in the Market Hall depicting the signing of the market charter

By 1829, the area was becoming industrialised, and the market continued to meet the needs of the growing populace. This was the year when an enclosure for the butchers' stalls was completed. This structure, like Topsy, grew and grew, becoming the extensive and famous Ashton Market Hall. From Monday to Saturday each week, Ashton Market and Market Hall are firmly rooted in the 21st. Century. With over 100 stalls in the Hall and over 150 on the nearby outdoor market, you're bound to find just about anything you may be looking for, from food to fashion. On Tuesdays, the market ground is host to the biggest and busiest weekday Flea Market in the region. Extra value on a wide range of goods and the chance to "discover" something collectable, plus general shopping at the Market Hall.You couldn't ask for more!

The Original Concept

But on Sundays the clock has been turned back to the original concept of markets. Members of the public come along to the regular Table-top Market to buy and sell goods which are surplus to their requirements, just as folk did 700 years ago.