Wigan Market

Market

Mester, That was amazing.

I knew some of those people in the market and the stalls that they worked on. The best was the interview with my Uncle Bill and Aunt Maggie at the cafe.

Many thanks for this.

Good isn't it.

Joseph and Fred, Standish Video had that on a DVD rather than the VHS tape when first released, it also had the demolishing of the cooling towers on, not sure if it is still available as the last time I saw a copy was on the Just Entertainment stall within the market and that has been closed a while now.

I remember the key cutter and the veg shop man(couldnt forget his nose ever)said with respect.

A busy bustling Market Hall, so sad what happened to it and they call that progress.

I mainly buy frozen. Reputed to have far more vitamins and nutrition because of less deterioration.
Sorry wrong thread.should be on My home town.

Frank Ryding must be the last link between the old and new market.
And they'll still wrap up your newspaper on his stall.
Loved the video - thanks Joseph .
I've just realised that Geoffrey Shyrhane must have been the inspiration for Alan Partridge

Most welcome.

Thanks that was great can feel the atmosphere of the market how friendly people were and the market and shops catered for every age group someone in the powers that be made a great big cock up of wigan

shame that wigan council, is going to close it and redevelop
what about putting it in the old marks and spencers,
it as two floors..and would increase footfall to the grand.

Debenhams also as two floors

AN Appeal to wigan council get your finger pulled out and get on bulldozing the decrepit market it's time we had some thing to be proud of ..not a run down hovel .

I've heard a rumour that the new market will be in that basement of the galleries. This is the area that nobody had any interest in and hasn't had a shop in there for years. I don't know if the rumour is true, I hope it isn't. As an ancient market town it would be sad to see the market demoted to the basement!

Traditionally, and in it's true sense, a "market" should be operated with low overhesds.
No market is going to catch on as part of a £multi-million investment which has to be re-paid.

In other words, a 'market' belongs in a farmers field or on common land, where a trader doesn't have to pay the local authorities £500 a weekfor the right to operate.

Yes, absolutely - less overheads. People traditionally went to a market because it was cheaper that the shops. But now I can buy things cheaper in places like Primark and TK Max. Not that I want to. Buying fruit, veg, meat and fish should be an experience, and it once was - but now sadly not.
Indoor and outdoor markets can be a wonderful day out - Chesterfield, Leicester, Leeds, etc.
As for markets in fields. I once wandered off the tourist track in Jamaica and came across a local market in a field. We were packed liked sardines but it was something that brought back memories as a child. Being the only white man there, people would constantly shout "Hey Whitey, you come and buy something from my stall!" which was a bit daunting. Certainly no racism there - just that they didn't know my name. But as a travel photographer some guy came up to me and demanded money as he insisted that I had taken his photo (I hadn't). After a long debate he walked away and I perused the rest of the market (with camera in its case) and persistent pestering to buy goods, I then made my way back to the coast. However, give me that any day to the present Wigan town centre of 'pretend homeless' asking for money that will fuel their drug and alcohol preferences, sales people trying to convince you into changing your providers, countless charity pushers (I give regularly to my preferred charities) and an eerily empty market with only a handful of stalls that I'd give attention to (Ryding's newsagent top of the league)....

Ashton market now but gone ,Over the last few months no stalls on a Tuesday[:( Years ago it was all wooden stalls but they were easy to break into or burn down. The council then installed old container units which again had problems with rust and dampness but cost money to maintain. . They then scrapped the metal units and replaced them with glorified tents and there was very little take up because the stall holders had no-were to store their stock when the market was not on I imagine some of the other local markets have gone also