London Street Markets Walk Spawns Countryside Markets Walk

It is an unpleasant fact, but face it: London`s ancient markets are dead! If they haven`t died on account of decline and neglect, they have died on account of Yuppification and hype. The old Borough market, underneath the arches, has benefitted greatly from the promotion it has been getting in respect of the walks that I have been running since 1990. People don`t always book the walk but they inevitably show up at the market and make for the stalls whose bargains I have recorded. Thus nowadays Borough is just too grand and also too busy.

I was asked recently on a radio show about the Petticoat Lane market. Tatty. Tatty when I first started the walk in 1990. But at least old Spitalfield was alive and kicking with some wonderful old book stalls and c1950 phonograph records which I can now only find at the East Street market in Walworth. Spitalfield used to have a fabulous cafe where the lady did homemade scones (hot off the tray); served them with fresh pads of butter and homemade jam; hot pots of coffee. We used to eat outside in the market. It was freezing. I used to bring my dog: my English Springer Spaniel. This lovely old place went with the redevelopment of Spitalfield. This old place went and with it alot of business for the walk.

Why? you ask. Because some beast has taken almost all of the content from that walk and posted it up on boards documenting the history and heritage of old Spitalfield market. Dork!!

And what about Church and Bell Streets? First markets that I profiled, inasmuch as they were my then locals. Footprints in the sand? Not likely! Footprints in stone, and none denoting Sandra`s seminal street markets walk. Walk with dog, I might add.

Cut to: 20 years later and an email from some girls in receipt of a bursary to document the history of the markets. `We understand you used to do walks, and have researched about the history. Can we have it?`

So when do you know you`re a Jew? At times such as these!

Sandra Shevey still promotes sustainable tourism and the local street markets of London. Walks are bookable at sandra_shevey@yahoo.com

http://sandrashevey.tripod.com/market.walks

The documentary: http://sandrashevey.tripod.com/

Sandra Shevey is a pensioner age 66 and supplements income from the walks with her pension.
She has recently launched another walk around England`s countryside markets entitled `Countryside Markets Walk` http://sandrashevey.tripod.com/countrysidemarketswalk