Medieval Shops
Fifteenth-century shopfront at Lavenham
Like many medieval towns, Burford's earliest shops were probably market stalls. Some may have stood in the centre of the street or under the Tolsey colonnade. Others stood in front of the house where the owner worked, such as a craftsmen or butcher. Over time these stalls became permanent structures. Fifteenth century shops are recognisable by their wide four-centered arched windows. Wooden shutters often opened upwards and downwards, the lower shutter acting as a counter when opened.
Content generated during research for the paperback book 'Burford: Buildings and People in a Cotswold Town' (ISBN 13 : 9781860774881) for the England's Past for Everyone series
