please empty your brain below
Is Cheshire street market still going? When I first came to London 40 years ago the poverty in the area was a real eye opener. It was completely run down and derelict with the market selling mainly second hand cast offs. I still have part of the dinner set that I brought at Petticoat Lane market all those years ago.

gruntbuggly | 17.03.25 - 7:31 a.m. | #

I remember my Dad buying me a couple of budgerigars from the ertswhile Club Row market near Brick Lane in the late 1960's.

It closed in 1983 when street trading in animals was banned.

Richard | 17.03.25 - 8:52 a.m. | #

It's good to hear that Brick Lane is no longer the main destination for a stolen bike. Though I imagine they've just decamped elsewhere and I haven't heard where that is yet.

Chz | 17.03.25 - 8:54 a.m. | #

Back in the day I remember being puzzled why on Sundays buses ran to Liverpool Street or Aldgate 'when everything was closed', then I went down there and 'discovered' this hidden world that got together on this day.

Sunday trading, car boot sales and the internet means that it isn't what it was.

Still Anon | 17.03.25 - 9:00 a.m. | #

Lovely colourful pictures of the markets; a lot of effort has gone into them, and the descriptions. Not to mention all the travelling to get round them all.

Street markets have often caused me to wonder how the economics stacks up. With all the work lifting stuff in and out of vans, the storage necessary for the stock, and the buying. But it must provide a living for the traders, or they wouldn't do it.

Malcolm of Kent | 17.03.25 - 9:01 a.m. | #

Not everything closed on Sundays, near Aldgate was the Houndsditch Warehouse which was open. You had to have a membership card to enter.

Bob | 17.03.25 - 9:47 a.m. | #

"... Cheese forms a strong part of the overall offering ..."
As it should, as one of the originators of Borough Market was Neal's Yard Dairies, another off-shoot of the amazingly prolific Nicholas Saunders.

martin'O'Holcombe | 17.03.25 - 10:10 a.m. | #

Wot no Church Street NW8, with the side pleasures of browsing the antiques at Alfie's Indoor Market (with a couple of other high end antiques shops nearby) or high end fabric shopping at Joel's (or others nearby on Edgeware Road specialising in fabrics for special occasions.) With a stop for a fish lunch/supper at the locally renowned "Sea Shell" of Lisson Grove. (The Saturday market is definitely smaller than 20 years ago, sadly)

MilesT | 17.03.25 - 10:11 a.m. | #

The unextended East London Line used to operate to Shoreditch on Sunday mornings to serve the markets as well.

Mikey C | 17.03.25 - 10:27 a.m. | #

Over in Elephant and Castle, you can see the two sides of London that rarely see eye-to-eye by visiting the Elephant Park market on a weekend, selling truffles, oysters, biltong, cheese and pastries to those living in the flashy apartments that look out onto the park.

And then, a few minutes walk down Walworth Road, you can head to the much older East Street Market where you can pick up fruit and veg, clothes, bedding, phone chargers, cockles, the lot.

Alex | 17.03.25 - 11:09 a.m. | #

My mother took me to Petticoat Lane market as a kid because she grew up around there. I'm older than you DG, so it will have changed a LOT since then.

I did giggle tho, today Sunday markets, what's next Sunday visits to garden centres now you've hit the age group for it? :)

Pamela | 17.03.25 - 11:10 a.m. | #

At Columbia Road and Brick Lane I am well past the age for it.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 17.03.25 - 11:13 a.m. | #

Ah, a mention of the Houndsditch Warehouse. We used to visit occasionally until it closed in 1986. We still have some wine glasses bought there.

JohnC | 17.03.25 - 11:46 a.m. | #

Thank you for raising my awareness of Rain's Madeiran Treats. I will endeavour to support this burgeoning business as I do like Madeiran comestibles and to not have to get on a plane to buy them is highly convenient.

Louise | 17.03.25 - 1:26 p.m. | #

50p BWORK BWORK BWORK - I remember ‘Petticoat Lane’ lady selling chicken noise toys (Sandpaper, string and cone)

Also Lucky Heather venders AND live chickens in crates for the slaughter, blood n feathers everywhere!!!

Ole Kitty | 17.03.25 - 2:03 p.m. | #

"the Houndsditch Warehouse...
There's hundreds of ways
everybody can save
at our store!"

As their radio jingle went. I never visited but my parents mentioned it .

Patrick | 17.03.25 - 3:40 p.m. | #

On my one and only visit to Borough market I stood in a queue behind the great Nick Lowe.

Anyoldname | 17.03.25 - 9:41 p.m. | #

I remember walking through Borough Market when it was completely workaday, with sacks of potatoes and onions, and The Market Porter and Wheatsheaf were regular pubs for the market workers.

That world has completely changed, but The Market Porter still opens at 6am during the week :-)

Mikey C | 17.03.25 - 10:49 p.m. | #

I recommend the Blackheath Farmers market on Sundays between 10am and 2pm located in the station car park, has sone fabulous delicious items

Jane | 18.03.25 - 7:07 a.m. | #

Petticoat Lane Market - The 'real' market for real people, surprising as its in the city and hasn't gone all gentry... but as you say lack of coffee shops.... i agree...long may it continue.

Bruce Wayne | 18.03.25 - 8:45 a.m. | #

Petticoat Lane market, always pronounced, if my extended Stepney,/Bethnal Green family are anything to go by, Pedicut Lane, or more often just The Lane.

Paul | 18.03.25 - 10:51 p.m. | #











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