The Church in King's Square, 1862

King’s Square was once a most congested place, with a church standing in the middle. The church was demolished in 1937, though its outline can still be discerned in the pattern of the paving stones. In medieval times dealers in fine fabrics were known as mercers and this area was known as the Mercery, because of the concentration of mercers’ shops. The mercers produced the final play, ‘The Last Judgement’. They were the richest guild and their wagon was an elaborate multi-level structure with Heaven above and Hell below. Heaven was decorated with clouds, sunbeams, gold stars and a wooden rainbow. Heaven also included winching gear to allow God to descend towards the Hell-mouth below.