18th Century Merchant Booths

Last updated: Jan 5, 2024

The illustrations on this page provide examples of the temporary structures that were built and used for selling goods at fairs, etc. For 14th-17th century examples of fair booths, see Merchants’ Booths in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

In addition to the research articles in the Additional Resources section, look over An Account Of the Laſt Bartholomew-Fair, And the Late City Order for Regulating the Same, With Two Letters to a Citizen of London on that Occaſion (1702) along with Reasons Formerly publiſhed for the Punctual Limiting of Bartholomew Fair To thoſe Three Days to which it is determined by the Royal Grant of it to the City of London, Now Reprinted with Additions, to prevent a Deſign ſet on Foot to procure an Eſtablishment ofthe ſaid Fair for Fourteen Days (1711). (There are no relevant passages on the construction of booths for fairs, but they’re an interesting glimpse at what was going on at an 18th century fair in England.)