Functions
In a medieval town, there was a strict division of areas related to different aspects of citizens’ life. Area surrounding the church served sacral purposes, while a town hall and a castle - administrative and military ones. A market square, however, was used chiefly for commercial activity. The Lublin Market Square, in addition to its commercial role, served as a place for display of the law and for public executions. Prison cells were located in the basement of the Town Hall. There was also a room where interrogations were carried out by the chief executioner. Moreover, the erstwhile administration of justice was aimed at effectively deterring prospective criminals. Obviously, a punishment taking place on the Market Square was not necessary an execution. Most often flagellations were carried out. In Lublin, executions - with the exception of special occasions - took place outside the city walls. Location of a whipping post in front of the Town Hall - despite the lack of any material evidence - is presumed by the fact that in other Polish cities, such devices are located in front of town halls until today.However, the Old Town Market Square was commonly used as a venue for large fairs. Jadwiga Teodorowicz-Czerepińska summons up a view of the Town Tall, which, in the 16th century - while without a cloth hall - was used as a support for wooden stands and merchants’ tents. Not all products were traded here. Some of them were sold in other parts of the town. For instance, fish were traded on the Rybny Square (Fish Square), whereas stands selling meat were located near the so-called butcher’s wicket (Pol. ‘furta rzeźnicza’). At the Market Square one could also find apartment houses and wealthy merchants’ shops, selling cloth, jewellery, spices and all sorts of luxury goods.