The Middle Ages
(1066-15th century)
Despite the conquer of England by William the Conqueror in 1066, Wolverhampton still existed as a small settlement in the clearing of a dense woodland. Its potential as a thriving trade centre has been dated from 1179, the earliest known existence of some-sort of market, despite there being no record of a royal charter for this, which King John didn't seem to have a problem with in a reference in 1204. It wasn't until February the fourth in 1258 that Wolverhampton's market became officially known, due to a royal charter granted by King Henry III for a market and fair Giles de Erdington, the Dean of Wolverhampton and Lord of the Manor. This charter allowed a market to be held every Wednesday, and a fair lasting eight days, beginning on the vigil of the feast of St Peter and St Paul. This market continued to be held throughout the centuries, despite England's crisis's in the following 300 years and ending of weekly markets originally held by communities nearby. 1273 is the earliest known record of mining for coal and limestone taking place in Sedgley. Weaving wool was the main industry in the 14th and 15th centuries, as Wolverhampton was fairly rural and wasn't very big, which also explains the sack of wool on the coat of arms. Although there is little evidence of this, it is recorded that by the 15th century, the Leveson's were the wealthiest family in Wolverhampton due to the wool trade. The vast amounts of money gained by the three families: the Leveson's, the Ridley's and the Cresswells, as a result of the wool trade, was put towards a huge programme of regeneration for St Peter's Church, and was completed by the end of the 15th century.