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The district has been inhabited since Stone Age times
and there was probably a Roman villa here.
The first Anglo-Saxon settlers (actually Angles) arrived in
the 5th or 6th century. Their settlement became known as Slepe
(meaning "muddy").
Around 1000 AD a ploughman discovered a stone coffin
containing bones which were declared to be those of St
Ivo, who was claimed to be a Persian missionary bishop
who died here around 600 AD. The discovery of Ivo's 'supposed'
body led to the foundation of St Ivo's priory (about half
a mile east of Slepe) which attracted many pilgrims - with
the result that the town of St Ives developed, the first bridge
was built and a famous annual fair (one of the four
largest in the country) was held. It was awarded its charter
by Henry I in 1110 and its clothing attracted buyers from
the continent, as well as people from all over the country,
including English royalty.
In the 14th century, the primitive English looms proved
uncompetitive compared with the newer Flemish ones and the
fair began to be replaced by a weekly market, which
became known for its woad, old clothes and eels, before developing
into an important sheep, cattle and horse market.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, St Ives became
an important waterway route. Lighters (horse-drawn barges)
used to bring coal from the port of Kings Lynn then return
with corn. Herbert Norris, the local historian, wrote in 1888:
"St Ives was formerly the centre of a great river traffic.
I have seen the river so covered with barges, that
boys could walk across the river near the Quay on their tops".
At the time of the Domesday Book, in the 11th century, there
were just 51 adult males living in Slepe (they didn't bother
to count women and children).
St Ives has grown rapidly in recent years and now has a population
of well over 16,000, compared with only 3000 in 1951.
Today, Market Hill is full of market stalls every Monday
and there's a smaller market on Fridays. The really big market,
seen above, is held on Bank Holidays.
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