Market Street, Mid Calder

Charles II Rex : - The King's majestie and Estates of Parliament takeing into their consideration that the toun and lands of Calder, pertaining heretablie to Walter, Lord Torphichen is a publict place of resort and lyes on the Hie way betwixt Edenburgh and the west countrie, and that for the encouragement and advantage of the indwellers and others and for keeping of commerce and trade amongst his Majesties leidges in these bonds, it is convenient and necesser that ther should be ane weekly mercat and ane yeerlie fair at the said toun of Calder upon thursday weekly and ane frie fair upon the first tuesday in October in all time comeing for buying and selling of horse, nolt ,sheip ,fish, flesh, meill, malt and all sort of grain, cloath, lining and woollen and all sort of commodities; with power to collect and uptake tolls customs and dewties belonging thereto. And to enjoy all other liberties and freedoms in all tyme comeing.

This Act of Parliament was dated : 17th December 1669

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This was also the place for the hiring fair when those looking for work would stand and wait for employers to hire them for a year. Men to the mines or the farmland and the women and girls for service in the big houses up until the War.


Today it is the centre of the village with the famous Black Bull Inn, Community centre, Post Office, hairdressers and Take-a-way food shops.