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| Mr John Mannion: friendly and fun to chat with |
After this I ran into
some colleagues and we ended up talking to a man in the market. He
was very cheerful and a jolly man, but he didn't seem to be hard-hit
by the busy trade in parliaments street. Unlike, Mr ‘burger
trailer’, this man had white hair, clothed in blue shirt and grey
trousers, and well weighted. It was clearly doing pretty well and
comfortable. I assumed he worked in the market, as he had a working
vest to hold his pens and notepad. It was worn and the only piece of
item to suggest his relationship with the market. His shoes were
leather and he had a large leather strapped time-piece. I later
found out his name is John Mannion and runs the fruit and veg stalls
as well as a shop on Blake street: Mann and Co. artisan bakery. Mr
Mannion's view is that the council is also not in the best interests
of the residents and thinks that they favour the extra money made
from events like the Food Festival. Regardless of its impacts on the
market. Then he goes on to say that the bridge closure is a
entrapment;
“the
act of causing someone to do something they would not usually do by
tricking them” (Cambridge British dictionary online 2013)
I hunted for more
information in the public library and found nothing, except some
photos. I have yet to find a book which mentions it. But online,
the York press has description of it:
“Newgate
Market
York
once had many markets for different products scattered around the
city, but since Victorian times a single market has served the city.
The
main market was held in Pavement, but moved to Parliament Street and
St Sampson's Square in 1837 and stayed there for 127 years before
moving to the specially-created Newgate Market - which lies between
Shambles and Parliament Street - in 1964.
Set
against a backdrop of medieval buildings, Newgate Market offers
something for almost everyone.
Over
100 stalls offer a wide variety of dry goods as well as a fine
selection of fruit, vegetables, fish and meat.”
There has been so
little change to the market since 1964, and I believe there has only
been two major changes. First was that the stalls were installed so that
traders would be sheltered without erecting their own. And second, was that bicycle racks were installed at the rear of the market.
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| One of the unappealing entrances to Newgate market |
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| Bicycle racks are barely used |
In summary, there is
clear tension with the traders in the market and the council. But
the problem seems to be directed to the city council. I do not see
any other arguments about solutions or that the market is unfit or
underperforming due to other factors. It would seem very unlikely
that the business and trade in the market is entirely due to the
strong competition from traders 400 metres away. The council website
shows its specialist' market and farmers' market events on it's
website. They feature often and seasonally, throughout the year and
consistantly. I can understand the local traders frustration, but it
should be a sign to up their game and bring business back. What
needs to happen to make this a vibrant place to be? How can a market
with such a long history exist between the shambles and Parliament
st. and still be vulnerable to poor footfall?
Tell us what you think of Newgate market and what can be improved in the comments below.
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