"Spitalfields market at lunch time. Just an average weekday, as secretaries and their bosses make for the local wine
bars and bistros which replaced the ancient 17th century market in 2001. Of course the old fruit and veg market had by then
been moved to Leyton, but the traders arts and crafts market (the people's flea market) was going strong until the men in
suits moved in.
Frankly, I think it is a disgrace. An outrage. A blasphemy"
Sandra
Shevey 2007
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Street
Market Historian Sandra Shevey has joined up with filmmaker Steve Beer to put together this 30 minute montage about four of
London's oldest street markets: Spitalfields, Covent Garden, the Borough and Smithfield. Two are currently fighting for their
lives (the Borough and Smithfield) as developers plan to refurbish major parts of the precincts some of which is listed.
The
intention of this documentary is to raise awareness about what is happening in hope that pressure may be brought to suppress or
at least to encourage sympathetic redevelopment of ancient market areas.
Sandra Shevey has been writing
in support of London street markets since 1990 when she first began her company specialising in guided street market walks.
She has also run walks in tandem with Westminster City Archives and the Museum
of London. And on 22 June 2007 Sandra will celebrate London's ancient markets in a selected reading of prose and poetry at
the Actor's Church, Covent Garden.
