Barnsley's oldest shop is 550 years old and has joined a neighbouring church to celebrate with a medieval fair.

 

Micassa on Church Street has beams dating back to no later than 1463 - 29 years before Christopher Columbus discovered the 'New World' of the Americas.

 

The florist and gift shop has teamed up with St Mary's Church to hold a joint medieval fair. The church is also celebrating completion of refurbishment works.

 

Micassa is run by Debby Rhodes and her husband Ian, of Staincross, who took over two years ago.

 

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Ian said: "Samples of the beams in the shop showed the timber had come from a storage yard. It indicates there was a building trade presence in the town even that far back."

 

English Heritage has also been involved in a refurbishment of the shop and found an ancient gaming token - known as a gambit.

 

The building, said Ian, should be listed but had somehow "slipped through the net."

 

He said: "I get comments every day of the week about its age and history."

 

The medieval fair starts at midday on Saturday, June 29 at St Mary's Church, Barnsley, and features a hog roast, medieval crafts, Yorkshire cider and prizes for the best costumes.