In July 2026, Ringwood Town Council marked the 800th anniversary of the town’s Royal Market Charter with a community celebration in the town centre. Hundreds of residents and visitors attended the event, which featured live entertainment, family activities, community stalls and heritage experiences celebrating Ringwood’s history and market traditions.
Culture in Common supported the event by programming and organising performances from Farm Yard Circus, whose blend of acrobatics, comedy and audience participation entertained local people throughout the day. We also commissioned a local artist to work with Ringwood’s market traders to create a series of commemorative flags, helping to celebrate the town’s market heritage and dress the town centre for the occasion. Alongside these, a collection of specially commissioned gloves was created as a creative tribute to Ringwood’s trading history, adding another distinctive visual element to the celebrations.
Another highlight of the celebrations was a unique community artwork commissioned by Culture in Common and created by ZEST Arts Collective. Local residents donated more than 410 gloves, helping to transform a collection of everyday objects into a vibrant market stall installation celebrating both Ringwood’s 800-year Market Charter and the town’s historic glove-making industry. Once renowned for its distinctive glove-knitting tradition, Ringwood employed hundreds of local women in glove production during the early twentieth century. Led by artist Alice Louisa and a team of local artists, the installation reimagined the donated gloves as hand-stitched fruits, vegetables, flowers and market produce, creating an interactive artwork that honoured the generations of traders, makers and craftspeople who have shaped Ringwood’s history. The project was a wonderful example of community participation, with residents contributing directly to an artwork that celebrated the town’s heritage and collective identity.
The event also marked the launch of The Secret of the King’s Lost Coin, an interactive family story trail commissioned by Culture in Common and Ringwood Town Council as part of the town’s 800th anniversary celebrations. Written and illustrated by Daisy Kate, the trail was developed with support from The Ringwood Society and co-created with pupils from Ringwood CofE Infant School and Poulner Junior School, whose ideas helped shape the story and activities.
The adventure follows Max and Mia as they investigate the mystery of a lost gold coin dating back to 1226 and the signing of Ringwood’s Market Charter by King Henry III. Along the way, families uncover clues hidden across 800 years of Ringwood history, solving puzzles, spotting historic features and exploring some of the town’s most important landmarks. Blending local heritage, storytelling and creative activities, the trail helps children and adults discover fascinating stories about Ringwood’s market, historic buildings and the people who have shaped the town through the centuries.
Designed as a lasting legacy of the anniversary celebrations, the trail remains free and available for families and visitors to enjoy. The circular route takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes and begins at the flagpole outside The Gateway in Ringwood town centre.
Working alongside Ringwood Town Council, local organisations, volunteers and businesses, the event celebrated both Ringwood’s rich history and the people who continue to shape the town today. Culture in Common was proud to support this milestone celebration and help bring communities together to mark 800 years of Ringwood’s market heritage.
See some photos from the celebrations above! 🎪📜🏘️
