Signal Film and Media Presents: MARKET TALES
1864 - 2018
EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF
BARROW MARKET
2 Barrow Outdoor Market, Bill Inman, Date Unknown
Barrow Market, 1983
Newspaper Clipping, advertisment from the New Market
Mustaq Ahmed on his outdoor clothing stall, circa 1995 Photographs kindly supplied by The Mail, Susan Howell, Mushtaq Ahmed and Lynne McKenna
Ted’s Outdoor Stall, 1969-70
CONTENTS
6 - 22 Ted Price’s stall in 1990, Barrow Market Barrow Market, 1983 TIMELINE
26 - 37
market tales project
38 - 39
ABOUT THOSE INVOLVED
Lynne’s Candy Stall, circa 1980 4 INTRODUCTION
MARKET TALES was a 6-month Heritage Lottery-funded project that explored the history of Barrow’s market through creative activities. Beginning in October 2017, the Signal Film and Media team and specialist tutors worked with volunteers, local residents 1 and stall holders to uncover and explore the role of Barrow’s market in the town over the last 150+yrs and to build up an in-depth picture of the market’s little known history. This small publication has been created to showcase some of the findings of the project. 5
2 6 TIMELINE
A BRIEF town, the market was as ‘a combination the one part that came in appearance of HISTORY to be fully realised. Birkenhead and a goldfinders city Establishing a market on the edge of one OF of the western had become vital prairies of America.’1 BARROW’S after thousands had flocked to the town MARKET to work in the iron, railway and ship building industries. In the 1850s Barrow and its surrounding Ariel view of Barrow Market The covered market, (date unknown), Barrow hamlets had around Archive & Local Studies built for the Furness 600 inhabitants. Centre Railway Company in By the 1871 census 1864, was bought by the population had Given the town’s Barrow Council in swelled to 18,901. prospects there 1874. The site of the During this time were high hopes indoor and outdoor Barrow experienced for the new market. markets had been Indeed, as the Barrow the quickest and largest 2 the brainchild of internal immigration, Herald reported , ‘with respect to engineer, industrialist, of people from around and civic leader, Sir the UK, of any town accommodation, we James Ramsden, who in Britain. Its rapid do not suppose there had earmarked there growth had gained is a better market location in a master the town something square between plan he drew up in of a reputation, Preston and Carlisle.’ 1856. Of all Ramsden’s seeing it described Imagine the impact civic plans for the of the market on
1 Mannex Directory 1866, quoted in Bryn Trescatheric’s book How Barrow was Built, 1985 2 The Markets in Barrow, Barrow Herald, April 11th 1869 7 TIMELINE local people in 1866. It was the largest indoor space most of them had ever seen, with a wide range of goods all under one roof. From exotic fruits to haberdashery, fresh vegetables to suits, and rolls of fine Barrow Indoor Market, 1969 - 70, courtesy of Susan Howell cloth to a gun range, the market was truly The old market Award (2018) and a new experience for became a vital hub was shortlisted in the people of Furness. in Barrow, playing an one of six finalists important role in the in the NAMBA lives of hundreds of Britain’s Favourite thousands of working Market Awards. people for over a hundred years. Its fortunes were always It would be Flooded Trimmings Stall, 1996, The Mail Archive linked to those of impossible to the town itself, in the record ALL THE That the market interesting buildings contained boom and in the bust years. The new market, stories of the police and the market. magistrates offices still at the heart of the and the municipal town, continues the We offer, offices (on the Lawson tradition of welcoming therefore, the following St side) made it all shoppers from Barrow eclectic mix the more important and beyond. It is fitting it has won this from BARROW’s to townspeople. market year’s The Best Of TIMELINE
1864 appointed the first of the Market, any mayor of Barrow in orange peel, vegetable The Market 1867. substance, or other is built matter whatsoever, to 1869 the danger or damage The original of any person, and Victorian-|style Market any person offending coveredXmarket BYE-LAWS against this bye- building was law shall forfeit and constructed in 1864 Hawking, or crying pay for the first by James Garden for aloud. offence any sum not the Furness Railway. 19. No person shall exceeding the sum of hawk, carry about, five shillings…3 1867 or cry any article whatever for sale in 1899 borough any market; and every status article so hawked, FROM CANDLELIGHT carried about, or TO GAS Barrow was granted cried, may be seized BURNER municipal borough by the Superintendent status in 1867, and of the markets… county borough status Resolved- in 1889. It remained No orange peel to That Mr. Bland be part of the County be thrown in the informed that this of Lancashire until markets. Committee will allow 1974, when it became 26. No person him to substitute eight part of the new shall willfully or Incandescent Lights county of Cumbria. negligently throw or on the Stalls 67 + 68 James Ramsden was drop upon any part in substitution for
3 Byelaws for the regulation of Market and Fairs, Barrow – in Bye-Laws made by The Council of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the County of Lancaster, 1869. TIMELINE the six Gas Burners at present on the Stalls, at his own cost, on condition that he pays an acknowledgement of 1/-per annum and gives a written undertaking to remove the alterations and restore the Stalls to their former Police outside Barrow Fish Market, circa 1910, condition at any time Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre on receiving notice from the Corporation 1906 Messrs. Docker Bros. requiring him to do at a rent of 4/- per 5 so, and make good BANANA week” any damage attendant RIPENING thereupon.4 ROOM “Dropping of Banana Skins, &c., 1903 “Read letter from in Markets Messrs. Docker Bros. Resolved - THE FISH applying for a further To recommend that MARKET piece of ground in the the Surveyor be authorised to obtain IS BUILT Butter Market for the purpose of extending and have fixed in the Markets, 12 Wire Barrow Fish Market their Banana Ripening Receptacles in which was built behind the Room. to place Banana Skins, town hall in 1903. Resolved - That an additional piece of Orange Peel, &c. ground be let to And resolved- That a notice be
4 Barrow Council Market’s sub-committee of the council, 16th October 1899 5 Barrow Council Market’s sub-committee of the council, 11 June 1906 TIMELINE printed and posted in And resolved - the Markets calling That the police be WORLD attention to the requested to give WAR I practice of throwing the matter their or dropping Banana attention.”6 The most immediate Skins, Orange Peel impact of WWI and other refuse in the on the market was Markets, and stating THE when the Belfast to that person guilty of BUTTER Barrow steamship the practice are liable MARKET sailings were halted to a penalty of £5 in late 1919; causing under the Bye-laws This not only sold a severe reduction in for the regulation of butter, but also eggs, the supply of fresh the Markets. poultry, shrimps and produce reaching flowers. Most of the Barrow from Ireland. traders came from (9th November 1914, Flookburgh, Baycliff Council minutes). or Bardsea.7 The progression of the war, during ‘First, the butter which foodstuffs and market where farmers’ other goods became wives from all over the scarcer across the district sat with stalls whole country, also piled high with pats saw a reduction in of farm-made butter, the numbers working James Fisher buys a prize cow home produced eggs on the market as at Barrow abattoir around and fowls killed the suppliers, market Christmas in the late 1930s, 8 Courtesy of Douglas Fisher night before’ stall holders and
6 Barrow Council Market’s sub-committee meeting 18 August 1906. The fine of £5 was equivalent to five weeks’ wages for a labourer 7 North West Evening Mail 15 March 1996 8 Market History Memories by Lawrence Mahon, 1974, North West Evening Mail. 7 North West Evening Mail 15 March 1996 8 Market History Memories by Lawrence Mahon, 1974, North West Evening Mail. TIMELINE staff of the market 1941 ‘There were closed department gave up stalls everywhere on their usual jobs for NELLA LAST the market today, munitions production WRITES ABOUT and those big showy or were enlisted in the BARROW ones, with their ton armed forces. Sadly, MARKET of sweet biscuits and there is no formal cheap nasty sweets, record of the names Nella Last was have either gone or of the traders who a Barrow-based else had one tiny enlisted. The minutes housewife and mother space open between of Barrow Council who started writing shutters. No eggs, no record that Market a regular diary in fowl or golden butter was allowed to close September 1939 as on the county women’s for peace celebrations part of the Mass stalls, no little glasses in 1919. (Minutes, Observation project. of ‘rum butter’, or Markets Committee, During the second golden honey or 14th July 1919). world war she wrote glowing, home-made some two million marmalade, no toffee words, an edited or candy made from version of which was fresh farm butter, WORLD published as Nella no glasses of cream WAR II Last’s War in 1981 or tiny luscious pots and was adapted for of cream cheese. The The centre of Barrow TV (‘Housewife ‘49’) fishermen’s’ carts and was bombed several in 2006 with Victoria stall had no flukes or times during the blitz, Wood. Her only plaice, no piles of sweet particularly in April [substantial] entry ‘pickled’ Shrimps or and May 1941. While relating to Barrow baskets of glistening the market itself Market was for 22 shelled ones – gun was not hit, several March 1941: practice in the Bay had adjacent streets were stopped all that. badly damaged. 12 TIMELINE TIMELINE
that belongs to country people. They look hurried and worried in their efforts to spread their wares, and confused by harsh worlds and the general air of fault-finding in the people who surge around them There are Barrow Old indoor Market, 1967, The Mail Archive no dark-eyed lads in No shy clumps glad since seabirds do big sea-boots offering of pansies and daisies, no harm and, for their wares - just older cuddled up in the what food value they men - and some very folds of newspapers have, it’s a pity to take old grandies among to shelter them from their lives. I wandered them, Round the the cold wind. Only about with a sadness remnants stall there muddy-looking – and in my heart. I loved the is a different crowd. far too small – cockles market and the joyous There’s no hunting and pieces of most spirit there – from stall to stall for unpleasant-looking a meet-a-friend-and- a bargain, to make beetroot, which looked have-a-chat, even a silk slip or blouse as if mangles had been when there was no or ‘something cheap boiled by mistake. money for bargains. to make our Willie a There were no rows of Now grim-faced little overcoat. There furry rabbits or strings women queue and is plenty of money to of sea-birds – about push- and hurry off to ‘take the piece’ and not 9 which latter fact I was another leisureness ask questions.’
9 Nella Last’s War. The second World War Diaries of Housewife 49 published by Profile-
Books9 Nella in Last’s 2006 War. The second World War Diaries of Housewife 49 published by ProfileBooks in 2006
13 TIMELINE
1960 ‘A lot of folk will Barrow remember the “Celery Cine film: The King’ with his white Barrow and Celery Man toupee, without its market reaching very far back The “Celery Man” was in time, And they will In 1960, Barrow Cine one Mr Newton, who nostalgically recall the Club produced a short had a smallholding tender, crisp, white film about a young at Foxfield. He sold stalks endowed with couple moving to white heart celery for generous-sized hearts Barrow and exploring 1s per root, selling of snowy white the town and the local hundreds of roots per that one would area. The film includes day [source: NWEM really enjoy.’ 10 a section showing 14 March 1996], a them shopping in the unique character and old Barrow Outdoor offer by contemporary and Covered Markets. standards. 1960s
rEdevelopment plans
During the 1960s a number of plans were formulated for the redevelopment of Barrow town centre including the building of a new Film still from Barrow: Lakelands Industial Neighbour, North West Film Archive at MMU. market in a new
10 Clatter O’ Clogs by John Holgate, 1976 TIMELINE location. The projects were controversial, particularlyXasXthey involved theXXX demolition of several much loved streets & the original Victorian market building. In the end, several streets in the centre of Barrow were demolished, most notably Paxton Street, Paxton Terrace, John Street and Cavendish Square. The statue of Lord Frederick Cavendish, which had Paxton Street Demolition, 1968, Courtesy of Alan Wilkinson stood in Cavendish 1960s fairground rides and Square outside the in the late 1960’s, an Town Hall for over EMERSON auction of Emerson seventy years, was AND HAZARDS possessions came relocated to the edge up. An auctioneer11 of the town centre, Emerson and Hazard’s recalled the story before lately being Amusement Caterers saying that when they relocated to behind frequently visited arrived at a derelict the Town Hall on the Barrow Market each pub on Buccleuch site of the original year. The family have Street to find a (covered) Barrow a long history of huge collections of Market. travelling around the paintings by famous country with their
11 Post from John Parkinson on Barrow in Old Photo’s Group, Facebook on January 12, 2014 TIMELINE TIMELINE
The Queen opens Barrow Market, 1971, The Mail Archive
1971 1976
The Queen Clatter opens the o’clogs New Barrow Paxton Street Demolition, 1968, Courtesy of Alan Wilkinson Indoor “Clatter O’ Clogs” artists such as William Market HalL was written by Hogarth, George John Holgate and Romney, George On 10 June 1971, the published in 1976, Stubbs, paintings Queen opened the who spent exactly by Dutch Masters, new Barrow Indoor fifty years working for top porcelain, silver, Market hall, an event Barrow’s newspaper gold, diamonds and commemorated by a The Evening Mail. It sovereign jewellery. plaque inside the records some of the It was sold over Duke Street entrance colourful Barrow three days at James to the building characters from Robinson Auctioneers opposite the Town his younger days, in Barrow and Hall. including the Celery Sotheby’s in London King, who traded for the princely sum in the old outdoor of £100,000. market. Frank Baker on his final day of work after 45 years on the Market, 1996
Ted Price’s Stall on the old market, circa 1968/1969
Tommy Robson selling pottery, circa 1918, courtesy of The Robson Family Photographs kindly supplied by The Robson Family, Susan Howell, Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre and The Mail
Steven Robson in a large Teapot on Robson’s Stall. The teapot was there as part of a competion to guess how many teabags were in Barrows outdoor and covered market in the late the pot, 1974 1960s by Jack Kellet
Ariel view of Barrow Market (date unknown), Barrow Archive & Local Studies Centre 18 TIMELINE 1960-1997
TED PRICE
Ted Price started as a market trader in 1960, working into what became known as Ted’s Stall in the new Indoor Market in 1971, where he Jimmy Ferguson rings his bell, 1986, The Mail Archive sold toys, fancy goods and household items. Ferguson decided A very well-known the remind everyone trader, he finally in the traditional retired in 1997 after way and took to 37 years of trading in ringing a bell at 5pm the market. each afternoon. Ron Tommy Robson selling Burley who had a stall pottery, circa 1918, courtesy of The Robson Family DECEMBER 1986 opposite remarked ‘it brings a smile Tommy Robson began jimmy back to peoples faces’ trading as Robson’s at ferguson although others said it the original Barrow rings his bell contravened the Market in 1918, market bye-laws!12 helping out on a In 1986, all traders pottery stall before wereXofficially moving on to open reminded that they Robson’s - his own space selling had to open their stalls 100 years pottery which he at 9 am and close from in barrow sourced from The 5pm. Trader Jimmy market Potteries in Stoke-
12 Jimmy Rings Up a Storm by Colin Edgar, North West Evening Mail, Saturday 6th December 1986
TIMELINE 19 on-Trent. He finally it was taken over by retired after 65 years Hilda Mashiter in in the market, aged 82. 1966 and relocated His son Tommy then in 1971 to the new took over running the Indoor Market, where stall, which he still Hilda still trades runs, which makes the today. business 100 years old in 2018. parkers Barrow Market Stall furnishings decorating competition, 1996, Jimmy Ferguson rings his bell, 1986, The Mail Archive hilda’s The Mail Archive egg stall The Parker family have been open since the worked on Barrow early 60’s, where it There has been an Market for three was originally owned egg stall in Barrow’s generations, selling by Mike Richardson. Market (old and soft furnishings. Since transferring new) for many years. Trader Peter Parker to the new Indoor Originally trading has worked on the Market Hall in 1971, in the old Outdoor market for 52 years the business was Market as ‘Mashiter’s’, where he currently taken over by staff works with his son members Susan Dunn Darren. and her sister Carol Debroize who in 1996 DUNN’s won the prize for best- TRIMMINGS dressed stall! STALL harts the Originally located jewellers in the old covered market, the Peter Parker market stall Harts the Jewellers holder, 1990’s, Trimming Stall has The Mail Archive has traded in TIMELINE
Barrow’s market for the roundabout was over seventy years. relocated to the new The business first market development, started in Hart Street and eventually in Ulverston in 1947, relocated to the moving to Barrow Indoor Market Hall. Market in 1959. It is Frank retired in 1996, currently run by the and the roundabout grand-children of the Barrow Market Roundabout, was sold off and 1996, The Mail Archive original founders, recently discovered David Holmes from 1952-1996 to have been sold to a 1971 and Marc fairground company Holmes since 1982. barrow in Norway. roundabout april 1993 1994 Frank and Sylvia ‘blunder’ bus Baker XXstarted XX market operating the much- clock sold In the early 1990’s, loved roundabout in Barrow Council the Outdoor Market The old market clock decided to sell the (original site) in was made by Barrow- market. This highly 1952. Much loved by based clockmaker controversial proposal Barrow’s children, Felix Palmen. We resulted in a number of public protests. The market was sold to Southland estates in late 1992, eventually being repurchased by the Council following a protest over plans to significantly increase the stallholders’ rents. The Blunder Bus, 1993, The Mail Archive TIMELINE TIMELINE
don’t know when it 2000 was made or whether it was ever in the new In 2000, Barrow building but it was Council spent around referred to as being ‘a £300,000 revamping century old’ in 1994, the Indoor Market It was auctioned in Jacqui Armstrong and Paul Hall. This included Smith with Best of award the same year for the painting of a 2018, The Mail Archive 13 £300.00. large mural inside the 2018 building depicting 1995-1997 notable events in the Barrow MarketXX history of Barrow, was shortlisted portland painted by local artist by the National walk Helene Burrows. Association of British Markets as More streets off one of “Britain’s Dalton Road were 2017-2018 Best Markets” and demolished for has won “the Best the construction Signal Film Business of 2018 by of the Portland and Media local business review Walk shopping began a website “TheBestOf. development, creative co.uk”. “We have a lot the first phase of heritage of young traders now which opened in project in the market who are November 1996. The exploring the bringing in new ideas outdoor market was social history and younger customers temporarily relocated of Barrow’s but we also still have to Fell Street for Markets old the traditional stalls around 18 months, and new. like the Robson’s and before returning to Harts the Jeweller who its site adjacent to the has been here more Indoor Market Hall. than 70 years.” 14 13 Market’s timepiece of history for sale, Nicole Parish, North West Evening Mail, 27th April 1994 14 Barrow Market scoops top awards, The Mail, April 18th 2018
13 Market’s timepiece of history for sale, Nicole Parish, North West Evening Mail, 27th April 1994 13 Barrow Market scoops top awards, The Mail, April 18th 2018
BARROW MARKET 2017 1971 2017 Harts the Jewellers, 1990s
Protests against privatisation of Barrow Market, 1993 Harry Fisher and family, circa 1940s
Photograph of Barrow’s Covered Market in the late 1960s Tom Thompson’s market stall, / early 1970s, by Jack Kellett, Barrow Archive & Local 1996 Studies Centre Photographs kindly supplied by Barrow Local Archive and Study Centre, Jane Pidduck, Paul Smith and Douglas Fisher
Jane Pidduck on the outdoor clothing stall she ran with Mushtaq Ahmed since the 1980’s (circa 1993)
Jean Winward of the Arts and Crafts Stall steps through the puddle of her stall Barrow Market bus advertisement. courtesy of Barrow Market
Tom Thompson’s market stall, 1996 Opening of the outdoor market, Portland Walk, 1997 26 THE market tales PROJECT
OCTOBER - DECEMBER
2017 Before Christmas Signal Film & Media’s Heritage Project held a series of local archive research sessions, oral history training, photography and sound workshops and then opened a temporary market stall to showcase some of those findings. The stall received over 500 visitors in the fortnight it was open and due to popular demand, remained Mushtaq with photographs from the 1990s open until March 2018! he shared with the Market Tales stall 27
Aphinya of Tuks Thai Foods, photograph taken during photography workshop
Market sound workshop with Octopus Collective N&S Rhodes the butcher, Barrow Market
Hilda’s egg stall Christmas jumper day in Barrow Market THE market tales PROJECT
Barrow Island School visit the site of the old Barrow Market JANUARY - APRIL
2018 In January, a group of 13 local people began creative writing The Ashton Group Theatre cast workshops with local poet & rehearsing The Banana Man writer, Kate Davis. Over 6 weeks they explored market-related archive material and wrote a series of short plays inspired by these findings. The script ‘The Ballad of Barrow Market’ was then passed on to The Ashton Group’s Theatre Factory to be Market Map - post-it notes with performed live in promenade Market Memories format by their Young Producer’s Company on 7th April 2018 in Barrow Indoor Market Hall. Barrow Island Community Primary School animations
Book of Barrow Bye- laws in Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre at an Archive Research session
Vickerstown Yr 6’s making their Market Stalls
In March of the same year, we also took a coach of interested local residents to visit Accrington and Preston’s markets and held animation workshops with Julia and Sue looking at newspaper articles on the 60 schoolchildren at Barrow Market Tales Stall Island Community Primary and Vickerstown Primary schools. 30 THE ballad of barrow market
The Ballad of Barrow Market is a series of six very short stories about life on the market, presented in a promenade performance and linked by a chorus spoken in traditional ballad form. the banana king
The piece was written by local The story was prompted by writers, most of whom had never two pieces of archive material written before, and performed - the first describes a well-known by community group actors with former trader known as The The Ashton Theatre Group. In the Celery King who only sold celery. ballads we meet a succession of The second source was an article characters who explain, complain about a purpose-built banana and keep everyone moving. ripening room.
Amos is the self-styled Banana The ballads open with the Bell King of Barrow. He’s truly Man; he’s ringing loudly, barking obsessed with his stock and his out his wares and winding the own system for banana care and Market Official up. The chorus delivery. Today he’s becoming don’t seem to like him, he’s too more and more agitated by the brash, but he doesn’t care. A sheer ignorance of customers. shopper appears with his list His anger is about to explode. of odd requests and the chorus Things are not going to end well, introduce us to the first story. that is until his good friend Boris steps in. Boris knows Amos better than anyone and he gently for the new market building in steers the distraught Amos away the 1960s. It was written from the from the stall for a nice cup of tea personal memories of the writer, and a plate of chips. who had lived in one of the streets that was demolished. The ballad chorus tries to out- shout the Bell Man in advertising Mary is an elderly woman whose the goods for sale. They urge family have lived in Barrow for shoppers to park up and shop. generations. Radio Cumbria are Step forward Bethany. She has keen to interview her for a feature a thing about parking and a they’re running and Mary has placard. No-one quite knows agreed to share her experiences what she’s protesting about and with the audience. Her story is the Official certainly isn’t having moving - a quiet reminder of any of that kind of thing in his the life-changing impact a local market. The only one to stand planning decision can have on up for her is the Bell Man. The the lives of people affected by shopper is still searching for his it. She recounts her personal unusual items without success memories eloquently; she knows and the Official suggests they ask how important is that people Mary Douglas. don’t forget their past.
The chorus return. The Bell Man is selling something, though it’s not clear what. The official is getting mad, he suspects the Bell Man’s up to something but he can’t work out what. Bethany is trying to make her protest about demolition access but she can’t find her voice until the Bell Man steps in This story is concerned with the and offers encouragement. The human impact of the demolition shopper hasn’t found a thing she’s of the original market and the looking for so they make their surrounding streets to make way way to check out the next stall. THE ballad of barrow market
Would she be a bit proud of her granddaughter? Rosie can’t see or hear Nan but she’s there, at the back of the stall watching, listening, telling her own story. And yes, she’s very proud.
Back to the ballad. The Bell Man the miLliner’s tale and Bethany seemed to have left; the Official couldn’t be more The story was inspired by an oral pleased. But now they’re back; history transcript found in The the bell is rung long and loud, Elizabeth Roberts Oral History Bethany has a whistle and this Archive, the interviewee set up and time she will make herself heard; ran a hat stall in the 1940s. Much she believes that the market is a of the dialogue is taken directly place where anyone can make from the written transcript. their own way but rules and things like parking charges mean In this tale we meet Rosie, who the market is being starved of decided to run a hat stall after she custom. The Official ups the ante; got made redundant. Rosie never if she doesn’t shut up he’ll call the knew her Nan but she knew the police. Bethany backs down. family stories about Nan’s hat stall and that’s what inspired her to start her own business. Rosie gets on with her day and, when it’s quieter, wonders what Nan would have thought of her little venture? the ‘No refunds’ policy. Thing is, Abigail knows a lot more about antiques than they do.
The ballad takes up the story when Bethany spots the vase and asks Abigail what it’s worth. Abigail shows her the vintage advantage makers mark hidden within the decoration. ‘Rene Lalique.’ She laughs loudly and tells Bethany Ernest and Vikki run a Vintage it’s worth at least eight thousand stall. They’d like to branch out pounds. Vikki and Ernest are not into proper antiques but they pleased but, as Abigail points out, don’t know enough. Still they’ve a ‘No refunds’ policy can work paid £100 for a vase because both ways. they thought it looked a bit like it could have been made by Rene Lalique - but with no makers mark to be found what are they to do? They’ve had it in for months and it owes them money so they decide to suggest to customers that it could be by Lalique without actually claiming that it is, by labelling it ‘After unmentionables Lalique.’ They try it out their next customer Abigail, who isn’t keen Everyone moves off to the on it but gets more interested Knicker stall where Kellie Kelly when they tell her who Lalique is in charge. Kellie got her crazy was and how much his glass is name after her mam took up with worth today. Still she’s dubious Gaz Kelly. She’s only seventeen but finally they cut their losses and she’s had a hard life; there and persuade her to part with £50, pointing out on their receipt 34 THE ballad of barrow market
and anyone who’ll listen about her sister who’s in a wheelchair and her auntie Joan who used to have a stall, but now finds the only way she can make a living is by working from home. It’s the parking fees; they’re the were problems and she was straw that can break a donkey’s kicked out at sixteen to fend for back. The Official scoffs, tells her herself. She can be gobby; she’s no-one cares, she’s wasting her just had a run-in with a woman breath. The Bell Man though has and threatened to slap her. Thing other ideas, he takes her aside, is the woman was the ex-mother- tells her there’s a better way. They all move on. in-law of the glorious Anna with ONE CHERRY whom Kellie is deeply in love. Kellie’s not ‘hard’ but she can fight her corner, so when the woman tries to make out she’s been sold substandard goods Kellie wipes the floor with her. Now she’s worried; will she be reported? Is she about to get her marching orders?
Well the shopper still hasn’t Andy is coming up sixty, he got a single thing on her list. runs a fruit and veg stall. His The Official reassures her that wife Trish is given to ‘taking up’ someone on the market will things…interests….like Pilates have what she wants. Meanwhile and crystal healing. Now it’s her Bethany is growing more confident; she tells the official precious pug, Tinkerbell. Andy doesn’t exactly dislike Tinkerbell 35 The chorus are revving up for their final exposition; the Bell Man has found a box for Bethany to stand on, and while he’s urging the crowds to listen the Official is on the phone to the office calling for back up. Bethany has found her stride and she denounces all but the dog gets far more attention that she sees as unfair about the than a dog should reasonably fact that huge super-markets can expect. Trish apparently knits it pull people in with free parking cardies, more than one as well. but small businesses in town had Andy’s nose was put out and he to suffer loss of custom because did lose his rag over the dog a parking charges stop people bit one evening. As he says, she’d coming in to shop. She’s on fire, never knitted him a cardi. Trish she’s passionate about her town went to stay with her mate. That and it upsets her to see so many was four days ago. As if that businesses struggling. A man weren’t bad enough a lad turned appears, he’s Fred the Fix and up at the stall and wanted to buy he’s got everything the frustrated One Cherry. Andy’s a good story- shopper has been asking for. The teller and he takes great pleasure official takes a call from the Boss in describing the exchanges with and is shocked to hear that they the lad over the purchase of want to talk to Bethany, to see if One Cherry but all the time he’s they can do anything about her fretting over Trish’s absence and complaints. The chorus has the wanting her to come home. As he final word, reminding everyone gets to the end of his Cherry saga, that the market is a place where Trish appears and hands him a anyone can make their own way, carrier bag. She’d been knitting and be their own boss. for weeks while he was at the allotment. It’s a cardi. And it’s for him. THE END 36 CAST market tales FILMS THE ballad of barrow market
The mystery shopper, compere and guide to the Market Ballad Phill Gregg Bell man Eric Nelson Bethany Bridget O’Brien Council Official Dan Hardie Shopper Chris Wilson, Catherine Taylor
Banana King Banana King Nathan Powell Boris the butcher Conrad Birchall
Demolition Mary Douglas Tracy Jones Radio Cumbria Reporter Robbie Bown
The Milliner’s Tale Vintage ADVantage Rosie Nicole Rose Vikki Karen Hall Jilly Tara Edwards Doughty Ernest Jon Bissett Nan Chrissie Bentley Abigail Nicole Rose
One Cherry Unmentionables Andy Damien Rose Kellie Kelly Tara Edwards Doughty 37 market tales FILMS
MYSTERY SHOPPER
BY BARROW ISLAND COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOl YR5
All is abuzz at the market as a mystery shopper is announced. “Who is the mystery shopper?” they wonder. And, more importantly, “What is the prize for the best stall?” But the day takes a dark turn when the prize and shopper aren’t all they seem.
Pet Wars
by Vickerstown PRIMARY SCHOOl Yr6
The ghost of PC Gavin patrols Barrow’s market by night. When a new exotic pet stall arrives, causing chaos, he is forced into the day- light to lay down the law!
BALLAD OF BARROW MARKET
Unmentionables A film was made by Signal Film and Media documenting the Kellie Kelly Tara Edwards Doughty performance of The Ballad of Barrow Market being performed to a live audience in Barrow Market. 38 ABOUT THOSE INVOLVED
Signal Film & THEXASHTON THEXCREATIVE MediA is an award- THEATRE GROUP WRITINGXTEAM: winning charity, is an Arts Council- Thirteen local writers which providesX Funded National contributed to ‘The specialist creative portfolio organisation Ballad of Barrow film and digital whichXofferXXa Market’: DerekXX media education programme of drama Bradley; DavidX and opportunity activity by, for and Clancy; Ellis Dunn; from a dedicated with young people in Brenda Fishwick; base in Barrow-in- the Furness Peninsula. Ravi Jeyendran, Furness. We provide Theatre Factory is the Christine Lees; Craig a unique resource programme providing Lochhead; Duncan for people of all ages opportunities for Macmillan; Jean and backgrounds to young people to McSorley; CalebX access free facilities, collaborate with Staples; Victoria professional tutoring practising professional Tighe; Lee Wicks, andXXhands-on theatre Directors, and Polly Wright. experience in creative Writers, Designers digital media. and Technicians to make brand new theatre performances that spring from their own ideas. 39
Group on the Market Trip to Preston and Accrington, Dave the Market manager of Preston shows us around KATEXXDAVIS is an award-winning poet and writer from Barrow-in-Furness. Her poems have been published in Iota and Butcher’s Dog, implanted in audio-benches, sung, remixed and printed on shopping bags. In 2013 Market characters being animated by Vickerstown she received a Northern Primary School pupils Writers Award. Her first full collection will be published by Penned in the Margins in May 2018.
Looking at archive photographs in the creative writing workshops SPECIAL THANKS Thank you to the creative writing team and actors involved and to... Mushtaq Ahmed, Paul Alalouf; Jacqui Armstrong; Rachel Ashton; Susan Benson; Derek Bradley; Russell Brown; Alan Coombe; Kate Davis; Peter Daw; Douglas Derek, a project volunteer, looking at Fisher; Lawrence Fitzsimmons; The Mail Archive, 2017 Peter Gott; Phil Green; David Hancock; David Holme; Geoff Holme; Marc Holme; Heather Horner; Susan Howell; Ravi Jeyendran; Keith Johnson; Wendy Kolbe; Colin Lindsay; Duncan Macmillan; Gary McClure; Lynne McKenna; Nancy McKinnell; Jean McSorley; Saffron Moore; Bill Myers; Jane Pidduck; Norman The Photographers during the Christmas photography workshop with Joshua Bilton Rhodes; Barbara Robson Tom Robson; Belinda Scrogham; Paul Signal Film & MediA would Smith; Aphinya Tarnprasart; like to thank all of the following Andy Wakefield; Helen Wall; organisations and individuals Doug Walters; Tony Salmon; who have so generously lent and Sue Rathbone; Lee Wicks and contributed to this project. Alan Wilkinson.
The Mail; Just in case we have missed The Elizabeth Roberts anyone, we offer huge thanks to Working Class Oral everyone who was involved with History Archive; this project and our apologies if Cumbria Archives; we’ve missed you off the list. Home Images; BARROW MARKET HALL; Barrow archive and local studies centre SIGNAL FILM&MEDIA SIGNAL CINEMA
To watch films or to find out more about Market Tales, visit http://markettales.signalfilmandmedia.co.uk
To listen to the oral histories recorded during the project visit Barrow Archive and Study Centre. To find out more contact: julia@ signalfilmandmedia.co.uk
We WOULD like to thank all our funderS: View of Barrow’s Victorian Covered and outdoor market, circa 1900, Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre View of Barrow’s Victorian Covered and outdoor market, circa 1900, Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre SIGNAL FILM&MEDIA SIGNAL CINEMA
Written by Derek Bradley, Julia Parks, Jean McSorley and Kate Davis Edited by Kezz Turner 1 Publication Design by Joanna Roy