`TWO EAST MIDLANDS CHARTER MARKETS`

01-27-2014

By Sandra Shevey - Copyright 2014 All Rights Reserved

The transformation of charter markets into food halls is having a disruptive effect on local suppliers and local economy.  It is a persistent trend growing not only in the UK but all across Europe.

The question is: does the legal status of charter markets ensure longevity?

I recently visited two East Midlands charter markets to see what was going on.

Derby market received its charter from King John in 1204.  Originally an outdoor market it sustained as such (called the Morledge market) until the Seventies when the city council decided to redevelop the 1930 bus station and build the Eagle Centre shopping mall around Eagle Street: an ancient Derby thoroughfare.

The market hall by Thorburn and Thompson was built in 1864-6 for 29,000 pounds in an attempt to excise bull-baiting, riot and crime from the open market.

The hall is mentioned by Pevsner as an architectural gem of red brick in the Italianate manner enhanced by an iron and glass roof, 22 decorative columns, Gothic windows and a gallery under which shops and stalls do business.

The Cathedral Quarter market hall was closed for restoration in 1989 when traders were re-located to a temporary structure and re-admitted back to the refurbished hall on existing terms and conditions.  Rentals for stalls run from 300-600 pounds per month on a six day week (Monday – Saturday) (7:30am – 5:30pm)

Whereas in times past shoppers would queue in front of the hall and rush in as soon as doors were open these days there are few shoppers about even at 10am when I was there.

Around two-thirds of the stalls in the Cathedral Quarter market are empty and the whole atmosphere has an abandoned, forlorn quality about it.

Derby City Council intends to close either Cathedral Quarter market or Eagle Place market which is now part of Westfield Shopping Centre and thus benefits from Westfield parking and access.  The problem here is of course that Westfield encroaches and pushes out independent stalls for chain shops and restaurants.

Moving Cathedral Quarter traders into Eagle Place would consolidate stall holders whilst liberating listed Cathedral Quarter market hall for private hire functions and events.  Whilst such a move might suit some of the new, trendy traders the vast majority of old hands would be well out of place in a shopping mall.

In this the way it is going?

New traders promote craft beers and pyclets.  Pyclets, traditional Derby pancakes, are made from unleavened wheat flour.  They were sold in times past by a family named `Monk` who made them at home and sold them from a barrow just outside the market hall underneath the arches.  Current traders are Derby-born London boys who make and bake on the premises topping pancakes with smoked salmon and caviar.

So what are markets all about if they`re not about gourmet food and food halls?

From a choice of 18 butchers there are currently only two left at Cathedral Quarter. One is John Inger who has been there for 38 years.  John runs the stall on his own with assistance from daughter Becky.  He looks back on days when every shop had a butcher, a boy and two serving women.

Inger, who caters for traditional Derbyshire tastes, still sells fresh tripe, pigs intestines and cow heels.  He gets his meat from a local abattoir in Chesterfield where he`s been a customer for many years.  He trusts the abattoir to select prime livestock.  Meat is sold days after slaughter, which accounts for its pinky fresh appearance.

Like Inger, Baileys Fishmongers in Cobbles Yard survives from a lot of five and as one of two.  Fish is fresh, often sold the day after it`s been caught.  Supplies come from Grimsby, Whitby, Cornwall, Aberdeen and Conway.  Oysters from Lincolnshire are said to be so huge you can`t get them in your mouth.  I tried it.  True!  Delicious too.  So I ordered ten more.  Good..and sensibly cheap… 50 pence an oyster.  I think the price even beats Billingsgate wholesale fish market in London where I often go for my breakfast.

Of all the traders, Baileys has the market spirit- discounting prices for customers rather than charging what`s on the package.  Whilst Baileys was chatting to us he was also filleting a mackerel for a prospective customer.  The whole thing came to 5 pounds 60 pence.  There is no charge for dressing the fish.  `Give me a fiver` said Bailey.  `Sold` replied the man who walked  away smiling and would definitely be back.

The fate of Burton market in East Staffordshire  augers less well.  Although Burton market operates under a charter from King John dated 1200 East Staffordshire County Council leased the 1883 heritage market hall by Dixon and Moxon to Quarterbridge Project Management in 2013 when they embarked upon a campaign of refurbishment.

Traders were shunted over to the Octagon Centre with options to return under new terms (six day week) and massive rent increases (1000 pounds pcm)

In talking with some of the traders I discover they have been misled and don`t fully comprehend rights and protected status.  Neither the local MP nor a QC is keen to take on their claim and run it as a `test case`.  This is especially regrettable as they have been told (falsely) the original charter no longer applies at the Octagon and also that for purposes of perusal the old charter has been lost.

The tendency in Britain to abrogate traders rights via redevelopment and privatisation has seen the decline of many robust local markets.  Most traders complain local trade will not support a six-day week and thus paying for a six-day week can bankrupt and drive out of business.

The only trading which supports six or seven day trading is `branded` trading which as part of a cartel sustains on account of advertising, promotion and mass production.

If you want to see the effects of blight of redevelopment have a wander around Spitalfield market in London.  This ancient market with rights dating back to the 17^th century now operates at Leyton whilst the Victorian Horner redevelopment, now an arts and crafts market, has been turned into  a shopping mall with chain restaurants, gourmet shops and high fashion stalls.

The weekly antiques market is still genuine but the daily market (and Sunday market) have lost at least one-third of the stall holders and local traders.

In fairness, however, one must account for change.  Has public taste shifted??

Eagle Place and Westfield juxtapose public with private enterprise- stalls with shops.  The shops have been extended and expanded.  Stall tenancies are ebbing.

One particular Westfield shop is doing big business.  This is the Teddy Bear shop  where you can adopt a bear and in a sense participate in its birth too (You watch your bear being stuffed and getting eyes, heart and other organs)  You are obliged formally to become a parent and to sign an adoption certificate.  You feed, clean and shop for your bear.  The store has wardrobes from all the big Hollywood films including `Star Wars` which is a big favourite.

This shop is always jammed with kids who want the latest and newest cuddly bears and outfits to match.

With `Uncle` Walt calling the shots, what chance do ancient markets have against plastic Disney fantasies?  None!

SANDRA SHEVEY supports local heritage markets from around the world via blogs and tours.  If you have news about developments in your local market and want to host Sandra please contact her at sandra_shevey@yahoo.com

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