Metadata
WORK ID: NEFA 22430 (Master Record)
Title | Year | Date |
GRAINGER MARKET | 1994 | 1994-01-01 |
Details
Original Format: VHS Colour: Colour Sound: Sound Duration: 42 mins 23 secs Credits: Fred Cowling, Marion and Bill Ferguson, Geoff Mellor, Hazel and Jack Mills Genre: Amateur Subject: Working Life Urban Life Architecture |
Summary An amateur video produced by Hazel Mills and Jack Mills in 1994 about Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne. Includes a history of the market, its construction, and interviews with contemporary traders. |
Description
An amateur video produced by Hazel Mills and Jack Mills in 1994 about Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne. Includes a history of the market, its construction, and interviews with contemporary traders.
The film opens on a view of Grainger Street and the Earl Grey monument in the distance followed by general views of the area.
People walk into the Grainger Market arcade. The camera follows down a short corridor flanked by shops then into the main building.
A vegetable and fruit...
An amateur video produced by Hazel Mills and Jack Mills in 1994 about Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne. Includes a history of the market, its construction, and interviews with contemporary traders.
The film opens on a view of Grainger Street and the Earl Grey monument in the distance followed by general views of the area.
People walk into the Grainger Market arcade. The camera follows down a short corridor flanked by shops then into the main building.
A vegetable and fruit stallholder calls out the prices of her wares for the shoppers who come to browse or just walk by. She puts some bananas out on display.
Some still photographs follow, illustrating the Victorian era when the market was built.
General view follows of parts of the old town wall as the commentary continues its brief history of the city.
More historic prints follow illustrate aspects of poverty in the city. Portraits and prints follow of three men whose influence on the development of the city in the 19th century was significant. First architect John Dobson an architect whose legacy is much admired today as it was then. General views of his architecture follow: the old ‘lying in’ hospital in New Bridge Street and Grey Street,
Next a portrait of John Clayton of Chesters near Chollerford. As Newcastle’s town clerk for 45 years his administration ensured the development of the centre of the city. Prints and a map show some of the old buildings and a plan of the new streets in the city centre. Other prints show some of the newly developed streets.
The third man in this trio is Richard Grainger. There follows a number of prints showing poorer areas of Newcastle reflecting Richard Grainger’s humble beginnings, his father being a riverside porter. Contemporary prints of the new Newcastle streets follow on. As a builder Richard Grainger built the famous market. The video cuts to the busy market as people go about their shopping.
Prints follow showing buildings and land that had to be removed or developed in order that the market could be built. A brief view of the Theatre Royal, which replaced one in Mosley Street, is followed by more views of the Grainger Market, which started to be built, as the commentary states in 1834, and was open to the public soon after that in October 1835. A print shows a large celebratory dinner held in the vegetable arcade. A menu shows what was on offer
An old print shows large fountains at the cross avenue, long since removed.
General view of Exhibition Park where one of the fountains was supposedly moved, the other ending up at Heaton Park. Old picture postcards confirm one at Heaton Park, the other at Brandling Park near Jesmond. Another one apparently is shown on an old post card at Leazes Park. One of the two must have been moved again. Fred Cowling [a member of the film’s production team] walks past the former site of one of them, the final destination of one of the fountains a mystery.
Views of old prints continue showing the architecture of the market which covered more than two acres. Looked on as quite a grand new building civic receptions were sometimes held in the market. A fire at the end of the 19th century destroyed the vegetable arcade. The film cuts to a view of the arched roof of the 1901 rebuild.
The film then shows the range of businesses in the former vegetable arcade, trading from a number of small kiosks as well as bigger units around its perimeter.
Inside a branch of the repair service Supastitch, two women work at their sewing machines. One woman takes down a coat from a rack another checks over a pair of trousers.
At a nearby cobblers an automaton in the shape of a cobbler repairing a shoe on a last, advertises the service. These businesses are at odds with original business of the arcade which was to sell vegetables, fruit and live produce. A man operates a machine to add the finishing touches to a shoe repair.
A woman buys cheese from a cheese stall. ‘Sarah’s Tuck – In, a sandwich shop, is busy. Other shoppers sit drinking tea or coffee, taking a rest on a busy day. A woman browses through some CDs on sale at a kiosk.
Margaret Robertson, a florist at the market, is interviewed in her garden. She started with E B Brown Brothers, and she talks about how she learned her trade, and how the second world war affected trade. She had been working for a florist since she was 14.
Back at the arcade and a large florists called Sarah Gaskin. Susan Mottershead, the manager of the business, talks about her work, and demonstrates the making of a basket of flowers.
Another shop, the Tyneside Seed Stores shows the exterior, then the interior where Michael Martin the proprietor will help you find the right product for your garden. He explains that he has run his business in the arcade for 33 years, the shop opening on the 18th February 1961. He talks about the business and some of the changes he has seen over the years. Before it was a seed shop, it was a musical instrument store.
In another part of the market is the Coffee Centre and a ‘name from the past’ Pumphrey and Carrick Watson, known simply as Pumphreys. Sylvia Robertson talks to Fred Cowling about the range of products on sale, including types of coffee and tea from all over the world. A print illustrates the original Pumphrey’s premises from the 1850’s in the Bigg Market. Sylvia explains they have a factory in Blaydon, which deals with the tea blending and coffee roasting. A set of scales on the counter advertises the shop and its products; ‘Pumphreys Coffees and Teas Served Here’
At the premises in Blaydon, Malcolm Archer explains on camera why he thinks Pumphrey’s Coffee is best. In blue overalls and wearing a net cap over his hair, he points out an old coffee roaster nearby, built about 1940. Other similar roasters are in the room. Malcolm explains that, although they are old, the staff are familiar with them and they always give good results because of the way the machines work, compared to more modern roasters. A close-up follows of beans being stirred automatically in a round drum with an open top.
The film returns to the arcade, which, the commentary states, looks as it may have done at the beginning of the century. The commentary goes on to say that the local authority who is also the landlord of the premises plans to relay the floor which requires the temporary removal of a number of kiosks.
Frederick Clydesdale of the ‘Best Buy’ kiosk reflects on this proposal. He explains that the floor laying and other alterations will turn the clock back 150 years to how the market used to look.
At Robinson’s Pet Stores, a family business since 1929, their slogan on display reads; Robinson’s Pet Stores - All Our Best Customers Wear Tails’
A brief view shows some women looking around a photographer’s store. A general view follows of the ornate windows and display at Raymond Morris’s Jewel Box.
The next business is a vegetable and fruit store. Once confined to the arcade area, businesses like these are scattered around the market. General views show displays and customers buying produce from a number of similar stores. One or two customers chat with the proprietor or sales assistant. Staff working behind the counter shout out prices for specific goods.
A newcomer to the market is greengrocer Brian Ayres. He talks to Fred Cowling about his business. Brian says that supermarkets and new Sunday trading laws have affected business, although there are still plenty of regular customers. He also explains that produce is now being bought from all over the world.
General views follow of the range of goods on sale in the present Grainger Market, a world away from the original market which sold vegetables, fruit and meat.
The film goes on to cover the book trade, in the shape of W H Robinsons extensive shop, which dates back to the 19th century and the only one surviving in the market [closed in 2014]. It sells bargain books, second hand books and local history books. A few women browse through bargain book display bins. One of the women expresses her reading preferences.
The film cuts to an old print of Marks & Spencer’s penny bazaar. A small portrait of Michael Marks is superimposed on the main picture. Stills of prints relate the early beginnings of the Marks and Spencer business in Yorkshire. The film shows the famous Marks & Spencer penny bazaar in the Grainger Market, opened in 1895. Shoppers examine the garments on sale in the shop, which will soon be celebrating its hundredth anniversary in Newcastle. Margaret Baxter supervises Marks and Spencer’s oldest shop.
The film cuts to Northumberland Street, Newcastle, and Marks and Spencer’s large high street store. Two women look at clothes at a display stand; another customer seeks help at the customer ordering and information desk. A poster on the wall advertises a Marks and Spencer fashion show in September at the City Hall. A view follows of a stocking display. The film cuts to a busy food section, at the time of filming one of the largest in the UK. Displayed on a wall are plans for extending the existing shop. An artist’s impression of an escalator access point shows how it might look in the new building, scheduled for completion in 1996.
The film cuts to an old print of Mark’s Penny Bazaar seen earlier.
At stores 1 and 2 in the Grainger Market is the antique frontage of the Northern Optical Company, established in 1894 and celebrating its centenary year.
Another window display for a shop celebrating a hundredth anniversary shows a record or music store with a range of photographs and vinyl records reflecting tastes in popular music over that time. A notice in the window of the optical company reads; ‘The Northern Optical Company Centenary Year 1894 – 1994’.
Just outside the Northern Optical Company, the film captures one of the market's characters, ‘Matty’ eager to give the cameraman some assistance for the price of a pound!
The film looks at the butcher trade, once a major feature of the market, with up to 160 trading at the same time in the early days. The film shows a corner unit belonging to ‘My Favourite Butcher’. Two women are at the Scotch Corner snack bar, while next to them a large double fronted unit houses a large butchers shop.
At another butchers shop, two women buy some meat which is weighed by an assistant.
The commentary changes to that of local raconteur Joe Ging, describing childhood memories from the early 1930s, over a view of the premises of Oliver and Eden family butchers. From a nearby trolley, a butcher lifts a carcass to carry into the shop. Across the corridor from the Oliver and Eden premises is another butchers shop. Close ups follow of butchers preparing meat for sale.
A toy store is stocked with novelty items and shelves full of small toy soldiers, as well as a range of novelty hats and masks.
Another feature of the Grainger Market is the Weigh House and Market Office. A sign hanging from the roof of the market shows its location. Many people use it to get themselves weighed. In the weigh house office a queue has formed, each waiting in turn to be weighed for a small fee. Originally it was used for weighing meat carcasses and other produce, but visiting shoppers have been keen to get weighed themselves. Visitors to the weigh house pick up their coats and shopping as they leave. Some of the people come regularly to be weighed. A modern set of scales provides a display only on the operator’s side of the scales. The operator says that many people don’t like the idea of their weight being on display to all, it’s ‘private and confidential. A visitor's weight is handed to them written on a ticket so only the customer knows the ‘good news or bad’. The operator reads the weight from a digital display in front of her. Karen Toward, the operator, explains on camera the number of customers she deals with which varies during the time of day and the seasons over the year. An exterior view of the weigh house follows as customers leave.
The market office next to the weigh house manages the market’s business. The duty inspector for the day is Ned Thompson who sits behind his desk. He explains his role and the problems he faces daily. He is one of six who supervise four markets run by the local authority, the Grainger Market, the Green Market, the Bigg Market and the Sunday Quayside Market.
Plans to restore the market are ongoing, on film a detailed architectural drawing shows one of the traditional shop frontages.
On camera Bill Edgar, secretary of the Market Traders Association, gives his view of the restoration project. He points out one premises ‘The Rothbury Shop’ is virtually unchanged since the market's opening. The Freezer Centre next door was modified, but has since been changed to look more in keeping with original frontages such as ‘The Rothbury Shop’. Many of the butchers shops will have to change their ‘headers’ when there is a change of ownership, to one more in keeping with the general restoration of the market.
The film cuts to general views of one of the busy avenues, where the commentary states that most of the people who come to the market are regular customers who are loyal to the market and shop there in preference to anywhere else.
A china shop is selling crockery and decorative items called Chinatown.
In another shop selling similar items, the proprietor shows some items to a customer.
A woman sells trays of eggs. A woman starts making a bow for a flower arrangement at Maud's the florist.
Another ‘specialist’ trade takes place at ‘The Tripe Shop’, filmed, as the commentary states, as it was in 1994. A woman serving cuts bits of tripe up for a customer. By the autumn the shutters have come down on this shop for the last time. Another woman weighs some tripe for another customer, places it in a plastic bag, and then hands it to the customer wrapped in newspaper.
Another shop trading under the name of ‘A Kettlewell’, sells game and poultry including rabbit. This shop has been trading in the market almost since it opened. The latest member of the family Ronnie Kettlewell to manage the business serves a customer near a display of boxes and trays of eggs. He is asked a few questions about his business, which he says has been trading in the market since 1844. A notice on display reads: ‘A. Kettlewell 150 Years 1844 – 1994 – The Oldest Family Firm in the Market.’ He explains that they used to be in the Bigg Market but moved into the new Grainger Market not long after it opened. A close-up follows of a sales sign which reads: ‘Fresh Wild Rabbits 99p Each’ A brief still photo shows Ronnie holding up two chickens or turkeys for sale, while above hang dozens of the birds.
Another stall is selling fabric and sewing items. Another stall sells women’s hats. A woman in the shop tries on a hat while talking to an assistant. The assistant helps another woman looking for the right hat.
People wait patiently in a queue outside Greggs, the Tyneside bakery and snack shop. Not far from the sales area a man attends to ovens baking stottie cakes.
A sign above another shop advertises ‘Bulman Tools’ selling a huge array of tools for the amateur and professional. Another tool, ironmongery and cutlery shop belongs to W M Docherty with every bit of display space crammed with goods.
A change of product as the film captures a butcher making sausages. Fred Cowling talks to butcher Fred Eden who has traded in the market for over half a century.
A high angle view shows another butcher at work serving a customer, as the commentary lists a number changes, some social, some to do with regulations and new competition, which may have an impact on the future of the market.
Another butcher makes a sort of swiss roll with meat and pastry, selling them as ‘pork and leek swirls’.
General views show another butcher and another customer being served.
Another butcher chops up small bits of meat on a wooden block.
The film cuts to Richard Grainger’s grave in Benwell cemetery. The gravestone with inscription is surrounded by iron railings. He was laid to rest on the10 July 1861.
Credits:
Our Thanks To:
Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery, Central Library, Discovery, Civic Centre, Marks & Spencer PLC, Pumphreys, The Stall Holders and Staff, Alec Campbell, Bill Edgar, Joe Ging, Major Benson
Production Team – Fred Cowling, Martin & Bill Ferguson, Geoff Mellor, Hazel & Jack Mills
The End, 1994
Behind the credits the commentary and film continues. The commentary says of Richard Grainger ‘if you want his monument look around’. Various views of locations around Newcastle follow, including an old print of Eldon Square, film of Leazes Terrace and Leazes Crescent, photo prints of the Central Exchange building, Grainger Street, Clayton Street, Market Street and finally film showing the entrance to Grainger Market
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