Thursday 28 June 2007

Romford Market

This picture is of my home town Romford, taken in 1905. It shows the Market Place as it then was. If you look carefully you can see some cattle on the left. At that time the market was primarily a market where farmers brought their cattle, horses, sheep, chickens etc.
When we first came to live in Romford in 1965 it was no longer a cattle market but a general market. I remember the main bus route went right through the centre of the market.
Today is is a paved area without traffic and sells just about every imaginable commodity in over 300 open air stalls. It is the largest in the country and people come for miles around.
It is now over 750 years old.
Below you will see some photos that I took recently. It was early in the morning before it got busy and unfortunately there is a lot of shadow as it was a bright day.











Whenever we have had American friends to stay (and there have been many, believe me) they just love it and insist on spending a morning or afternoon there.
I could never list the things one can buy there but think of anything from meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, flowers, clothes, bathroom stuff, kitchen utensils, books, videos, C.D.s, plants, haberdashery,curtains, material, eggs, cleaning products, blinds, mirrors. You name it, it's there.
I remember when my children were living at home and we were having so many guests staying one could often go to the market late in the day and buy amazing bargains of gluts of vegetables and soft fruits and the like. Really good when making jam.









10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Barbara I love a good market, thank you for the romp around Romford.

Anonymous said...

Some times I'd live to time travel......

Sue Seibert said...

How wonderful. 1,000 years old...there when old William the Conqueror came...wow. Nothing in the "colonies" is that old but dirt. My dream is to come to England one day.

Beach Girl said...

I love traveling there through your pictures. Thank you!

Vanessa

Reflection Through The Seasons said...

Good Morning Barbara.....

I am so pleased to receive the recent comments you left for me. I’m sorry it has taken me a little while to respond, I’m having problems with my computer, which is making me way behind with everything.

I know I am going to enjoy checking through your blog and I can already see from your profile, we share many interests.

So pleased to read that you have a love for Wales too. I was looking for your e-mail address, so I could communicate with you about your proposed trip to this area, but I can’t find it. Such a great pity you had to cancel at the last minute. I hope your husband is fully recovered now.

If you’d like to drop me a line, you’ll find my e-mail address on my profile. Hope to hear from you. Marion

Jeanne said...

Great pictures of the market.....
Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Looks like a place where I could easily spend the day...thanks for sharing your market day!

TO BECOME said...

Oh, that would be such a wonderful palce to visit. I hope you have a very happy week. connie fromTexas

Linda said...

I've never even heard of Romford but, if I am ever in England, I am certainly going to check it out. It looks like fun!

Ms. Kathleen said...

Wow, 1000 years old. But then the Native Americans probably beg to differ and that is understandable. We immigrant Americans cannot comprehend that. The market is a place I know I would love to visit.