The following article appeared in the Kensington Post in February 1971: ‘Bottom of any league of street markets, would come the genuine places for cheap goods. One such place is the North End Road Market in Fulham. Another lies on a half-mile patch of ground between the Goldhawk and Uxbridge Roads, W12. This is the Shepherd’s Bush Market. This strip of shops and stalls Continue reading
The following article appeared in the Kensington Post in February 1971:
‘Bottom of any league of street markets, would come the genuine places for cheap goods.
One such place is the North End Road Market in Fulham. Another lies on a half-mile patch of ground between the Goldhawk and Uxbridge Roads, W12. This is the Shepherd’s Bush Market.
This strip of shops and stalls formed after the First World War when depression began to hit the poorer classes badly.
From the start, the “rag trade” at the Bush Market proved extremely popular, as it does today.
There are still families trading there whose grandparents ran the original overcoat stalls.
Stall-holders like Sol and Jessie Freedman have been working the market as a family since 1928 – although they sell second-hand dresses, hats and coats these days.
Sol, 56, and Jessie, 40, who live off King Street, Hammersmith, have had the business in the family since 1928.
A “nearly new” dress would cost a rag trade fan about ten shillings. The stall caters for all sorts.
But even in the early days stall-holders soon branched out into other lines of business – especially fruit and vegetables.
By buying in bulk at Covent Garden, stall-holders soon found they could sell at competitive prices.
Roger Coldrake, 25, a fruit-seller is to be seen every Saturday tempting the shoppers with cut-price fruit and veg.
The next step was for the stall-keepers to buy for specific events, such as Christmas. The flourishing toy trade started this way, and as prosperity returned, they found that it was possible to run a toy stall all through the year and make a profit.
At least the stall-holder whose cry was: “Get your bloody toys here” last week, seemed to be doing a brisk trade.
The balloon seller, John Hall, also does well, selling up to 400 balloons at two-bob a time on Saturday’s.
But a balloon seller’s life isn’t all fun: “I have to make sure that the kids hold the ballon tight, because if it blows away, they cry their eyes out. I get my share of tears down here.”
The market was quick to catch on to the increased spending power of young people, and the blare of Pop records draws quite a crowd of teenagers.
Amusement arcades, with flashing lights, pinball machines and one-arm bandits add to the fairground atmosphere.
But behind this superficial front the ordinary stalls go on selling their ordinary products. Butchers sell huge steaks that look nothing like the pre-packed supermarket versions at surprisingly low prices.
In the pet shops, traders do quick business in pigeons, hamsters and puppies – all of which look healthy and well cared for.
Debby Batterbee, 12, is a very wiling hand in Ellis’ Pet Stores. And working at the store is all good training for Debby, of Abdale Road, Shepherd’s Bush. She wants to be a vet.
You can buy a watch for a couple of pounds, have a copy of your front door key cut or take a “miracle cure” for whatever’ s wrong with you.
In the centre of the market there is a hard core of shops, the most stunning of which is the Newman Hire Company. This Aladdin’s Cave is full of lamps, pottery, clocks, statues, ornaments and bric-a-brac, but none of it is for sale.
It is all for hire, and over the years Aubrey Newman’s firm has become the major supplier of props to the BBC.
This perhaps sums up the Bush Market. It isn’t trendy and doesn’t want to be. But it’s a real market with real people.’
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for sending me the article. The above image dates back to 1948)
