MARAZION, a small seaport of Cornwall, England, on the shore of Mount's bay, 2 m. E. of Penzance. Pop. (1921) A causeway of boulders and pebbles, thrown up by the sea and passable at low tide, unites Marazion with the insular St. Michael's Mount (q.v.). The charter attributed to Robert, count of Mor tain, granting lands and liberties to St. Michael's Mount, opposite Marazion, included a market on Thursdays. This appears to have been held from the first on the mainland. From it is probably derived the Marghasbigan (Parvum Forum) of the earlier and the Marghasyewe or Marketjew (Forum Tovis) of the later charters. Richard, king of the Romans, provided that the three fairs, on the two feasts of St. Michael and at Mid-Lent, and the three markets which had hitherto been held by the priors of St. Michael's Mount on land not their own at Marghasbigan, should in future be held on their own land at Marchadyou. To remedy the loss incurred by this measure Ralph Bloyou in 1331 procured for himself and his heirs a market on Mondays and a fair on the vigil, feast and morrow of St. Andrew at Marghasyon. In 1595 Queen Elizabeth granted to Marazion a charter of incorporation. This ratified the grant of St. Andrew's fair, provided for another on the Feast of St. Barnabas and established a market on Satur
days. In 1835 the old corporation ceased to function and its property was vested in charity commissioners. Of the fairs only the Michaelmas fair has survived and all the markets have gone. Remains of an ancient bronze furnace, discovered near the town, tend to prove that tin-smelting was practised here at an early period. Marazion was once a flourishing town, and owed its pros perity to the throng of pilgrims who came to visit St. Michael's i Mount. During the first half of the 16th century was twice plundered; first by the French, and later by the Cornish rebels. The rise and progress of the neighbouring borough of Penzance in the 17th century seriously affected Marazion.
The church of St. Hilary, destroyed by fire in 1853, had a very fine spire, which has been reproduced in the restored building. The inscribed stones in the churchyard date from the 4th century, one being in honour of Constantine the Great. Another has Cor nish lettering, which can no longer be deciphered ; and there are British and Roman crosses. Market gardening and fishing are the main industries.