In 1253 Richard de Boxe obtained a Royal Grant from Henry III giving him the right to hold a market "in his manor of Hoddesdon". The charter of 1253 reads "We have granted to the same Richard that he and his heirs forever may hold a market at his aforesaid manor of Hoddesdon on Thursday in each week, and that forever they may hold a fair once a year lasting for three days."

The market is not mentioned again until 1469 when Sir John Say, the then owner of Baas Manor, obtained a confirmation of the grant from Edward IV.

Hoddesdon Market House In 1569 the manor was granted by Elizabeth I to Sir William Cecil and then inherited by his son, the Earl of Salisbury, thence to the Geddings family who held manors in and around Hoddesdon from the 13th Century. They acquired rights to hold the market thus benefiting financially, and in an extract from their rental accounts of 1585 listed the stalls in the market at a total of 35.

From the 17th Century to the 19th there was a slow process of decline, until in 1886 a Mr Bridgman (who held a yearly tenancy of the rights) started a cattle market. At that time the market day was changed to Wednesday. It continued until about 1930, by which time it sold mainly poultry. Hoddesdon Cattle Market

Finally in 1922 the town council purchased the market rights from the Marquess of Salisbury so that nowadays the rents from the stalls are paid to the Borough Council.

With acknowledgements to "A History of Hoddesdon in the County of Hertfordshire" by J A Tregelles, and "The Chronicles of Hoddesdon" by H F Hayllar MPS.