Medieval History and a Grand Day Out!
So here I am, 2am Sunday morning, staring at the stars through a Velux window thinking ‘What the devil will I write about?’ for the next blog post.
Eureka moment! Easy, write about things I’m interested in, the things that I like.
So I’m a bit of history freak. I find myself reading quite a bit about it. Recently I was reading about Medieval England, it talked of markets and fares. The central part they played in everyday life. It made me think about Newcastle’s Quayside Market.
I always remember when I was younger – a lot younger – my dad used to take me to the Quayside Market. Travelling from Sunderland to Newcastle when I was 10 seemed like a 100 miles away and a family holiday. It was, back then, a special occasion. Then, in 1972 , the market started at Ouseburn in what I can remember as open sheds and stretched all the way to the Tyne. I can vividly recall stalls selling mirrors etched with movie stars and singers such as Elvis and the Beatles.
The road under the Tyne Bridge was packed with traders selling lots of different things from clothes to handbags. How it’s changed since then, the Quayside bus now rides that road, once full of stalls.
So when did the Quayside Market begin? According to Newcastle University there was a milk market recorded on the Quayside in 1717 and James Corbridge published a map showing daily markets on the Quayside for fish, herbs, bread, cloth, leather etc. on Tuesdays and on Saturdays clothing could be bought.
The Sunday market was established in the late 1800s extending the milk market past the Tyne Bridge. In the 1900s the market was more of a fun fair with strongmen, racing tipsters and street artists. Some of this tradition is recreated today for the Summer Festival.
The market today is still one of the largest Sunday markets in England and can attract thousands of visitors each Sunday. At one time it would have over 200 stalls. Even though it’s a lot smaller today, I’m keeping up the tradition, coming along with my kids. It’s still a great day out. Long may it continue.
Have you got any old photographs of the Quayside? It would be great to see them.
