LOVE YOUR MARKET
t’s mind-blowing to think that people have been using the Cambridge Market for around a thousand years. Back then, there wasn’t the pull of online shopping or a dozen mini- supermarkets within a mile of your house. Visiting the market would have been an essential part of your day. Jo Sharpington, from walking tour company, Cambridge on Foot, tells me the market in Cambridge is one of the oldest markets located continuously on the same site in the country. “People needed to come for daily requirements, such as meat, fish, dairy produce, bread, leather and wool”, she says. You can still certainly get many of your necessities from the market, and lots more besides, but it is often seemingly
much busier with tourists buying souvenirs, gifts or their lunch from the many delicious international food stalls. I want to find out what else is on offer, and whether the market is able to serve my modern-day shopping requirements, tempting me away from my usual outlets. Starting with groceries, Lyn and Joff Sharman’s connection with the market doesn’t quite go back a thousand years, but they are one of the longest- standing stallholders – a family business spanning three generations. Lyn comments: “We still have lots of regulars coming in, and also a new generation of shoppers; the students and younger people are shopping here more.” When asked why people choose her market stall over the supermarket, she says: “It’s fresh, and much of it is local produce, it hasn’t travelled, plus it’s not in loads of plastic, which appeals to lots of people these days.” The stall has a steady flow of customers perusing the beautifully displayed produce, and many stop for a little chat and some for cooking advice. It feels a little like stepping back in time, to a slower, more pleasant way of shopping. There are a number of great produce stalls on the market, offering everything from fresh fish to cheese, pies, bread, olives and much more. Sunday sees the Wild Country Organics stall busy from opening, with queues round the block. Market manager Tim Jones tells me: “We are starting to see a shift, particularly at the weekend and on Sundays. Families come for their organic goods, they sit on the fountain to chat and eat. It’s a great atmosphere. Cambridge people want to shop at independent places and the market has 201 of them!” This is refreshing to hear and I resolve to start doing more of my weekly shopping at the market. Next, I head in search of clothing, to see if anything in the market can turn my head the same way the groceries have. First up is The Serpentine Swap, offering super-stylish vintage (60s-90s) clothes with a twist. Stallholder Rachael Victoria tells me she offers a swap facility, giving 50% off if people bring in suitable second-hand items. “When I set up the stall, I thought how lovely it would be to create a big community- clothing recycling hub, a place where people could visit regularly and find something great for cheaper than high street prices. We are now all so acutely aware of the negative impact that ‘fast fashion’ has. I really want u
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