[2] Under common law no other market is permitted to set up within a day's sheep drive, which is taken to be 6.66 miles (10.72 km) from the marketplace.

By the 15th century, it had become popular with buyers and sellers from the City of London and other areas outside of Havering, who were beyond the authority of the manorial court and therefore outside of its powers of enforcement.

The manor gained status as the Liberty of Havering, with paid officers including a clerk of the market.

Reflecting the change in focus of the town towards the market, the Church of St Edward the Confessor was built to the north of the marketplace around 1410.

Romford Local Board made several unsuccessful attempts to lease the market from Charlotte McIntosh between 1882 and 1887.

There was a legal dispute between them in 1887 about the location of a weighbridge in the market, which the local board believed was blocking a right of way.

The opening of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway stations at Dagenham, Hornchurch and Upminster in 1885 had made it easier to reach Barking Market from those communities.

[15] It was a major agricultural market during the 18th and 19th centuries, with a corn exchange established in 1845, enlarged in 1861, and closed in 1924.

[1] In 1892 the Board of Agriculture ordered the closure of the market, because of a failure to complete paving and drainage works.

[16] It was decided at a public meeting that year for the local board to purchase the market and complete the works.

[14] The 1965 Romford central area redevelopment plan led to the demolition of buildings to the south of the market.

[29] In 2010 the layout of the market was altered to provide wider aisles, better access from the Liberty Shopping Centre and improved electricity supply to the stalls.

[31] The Romford business improvement district (BID) was created in 2019, covering the town centre and market.

[34][35] The Sunday market closed in March 2024 as part of Havering Council budget cuts.