Walthamstow Market
Encyclopedia
Walthamstow
Market in the London Borough of Waltham Forest
, is the longest (though not the largest) daily outdoor market in Europe. It occupies all but the last 100 metres of Walthamstow's High Street. It is reputed to be a mile long, but in fact measures approximately one kilometre.
Five days a week (Tuesday - Saturday), the High Street is dominated by Walthamstow Market, and Saturdays are crowded. The Town Square, adjacent to the main market, is home to an occasional Saturday French market
. On Sundays the street is quieter, with some shops and cafes open. There is a Sunday morning farmers market at the Town Square.
The street market
stretches the entire length of the High Street, apart from the last 100 metres of the street, and has about 500 stalls. The street is lined with shops of different sizes, from small traditionally sized shops to large supermarkets. Generally, the shops do not extend into the side streets, which are densely populated with terraced houses.
The High Street area has a diverse, ethnically mixed population. Forty-one per cent of residents (in the ward as a whole) are classified as black or minority ethnic, mostly Pakistani and African-Caribbean.
The market has kept a traditional cockney
feel whilst absorbing influences from the diverse cultures of the area. The overall tone is downmarket but with many interesting and enjoyable aspects.
Sainsbury's supermarket is set in a new development which includes a few other shops, which use the street frontage that Sainsbury's does not need, and a two storey car park above. There is a lift connecting the public car park to the supermarket.
The Mall Selborne Walk is a much larger complex with shop frontages on the High Street, and an indoor shopping mall. Most of the units are chains, the largest being Bhs department store, and Asda
supermarket. Selbourne Road, which runs parallel to the High Street, provides access for cars and buses. On that side the complex presents a blank facade except for one pedestrian entrance, and the car park ramps.
s, the Chequers and the Cock Tavern.
One of London's increasingly rare pie and mash
shops, L. Manze, opened in 1929 and still serves the traditional meat pie, 'liquor' (mushy pea gravy), mashed potatoes (mash) and jellied eels
.
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
Market in the London Borough of Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city...
, is the longest (though not the largest) daily outdoor market in Europe. It occupies all but the last 100 metres of Walthamstow's High Street. It is reputed to be a mile long, but in fact measures approximately one kilometre.
History and characteristics of the area
The 19th century Marsh Street, a rural lane, was transformed into the High Street by Victorian expansion. The street market dates from 1885. Today it is the centre of Walthamstow, with the main rail and tube station, bus station, post office and Central Library, and most of the commercial development and activity located around the High Street.Five days a week (Tuesday - Saturday), the High Street is dominated by Walthamstow Market, and Saturdays are crowded. The Town Square, adjacent to the main market, is home to an occasional Saturday French market
French Market
The French Market is a market and series of commercial buildings in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.It stretches just inland from the Mississippi River in the section of the French Quarter downriver from Jackson Square, with the famous Café du Monde at the upriver end, down to the...
. On Sundays the street is quieter, with some shops and cafes open. There is a Sunday morning farmers market at the Town Square.
The street market
Street market
A street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and often held only on particular days of the week...
stretches the entire length of the High Street, apart from the last 100 metres of the street, and has about 500 stalls. The street is lined with shops of different sizes, from small traditionally sized shops to large supermarkets. Generally, the shops do not extend into the side streets, which are densely populated with terraced houses.
The High Street area has a diverse, ethnically mixed population. Forty-one per cent of residents (in the ward as a whole) are classified as black or minority ethnic, mostly Pakistani and African-Caribbean.
The market has kept a traditional cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
feel whilst absorbing influences from the diverse cultures of the area. The overall tone is downmarket but with many interesting and enjoyable aspects.
High street chains
There are two main areas of new building which break away from the traditional character of the street:Sainsbury's supermarket is set in a new development which includes a few other shops, which use the street frontage that Sainsbury's does not need, and a two storey car park above. There is a lift connecting the public car park to the supermarket.
The Mall Selborne Walk is a much larger complex with shop frontages on the High Street, and an indoor shopping mall. Most of the units are chains, the largest being Bhs department store, and Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
supermarket. Selbourne Road, which runs parallel to the High Street, provides access for cars and buses. On that side the complex presents a blank facade except for one pedestrian entrance, and the car park ramps.
Independent retailers
There are many independent small shops specialising in ethnic foods (Polish, Russian, Indian, Chinese, Caribbean, South Asian etc), Halal and English butchers, fabrics, household goods , etc. There are many cafes: English, Indian, Turkish, Portuguese, Chinese and others, and just two public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s, the Chequers and the Cock Tavern.
One of London's increasingly rare pie and mash
Pie and mash
Pie and mash is a traditional London working-class food.-History:Pie, mash and stewed eels shops have been in London since the 19th century and are still common in south and east London, in many parts of Essex and in places abroad, particularly Australia - where there are significant expatriate...
shops, L. Manze, opened in 1929 and still serves the traditional meat pie, 'liquor' (mushy pea gravy), mashed potatoes (mash) and jellied eels
Jellied eels
Jellied eels is a traditional English dish that originated in the 18th century, primarily in London's East End. The dish consists of chopped eels boiled in a spiced stock that is allowed to cool and set, forming a jelly...
.
Market stalls
Stalls sell 'fruit and veg', cheap clothes, kitchen and hardware items including a vacuum cleaner spares stall, and a few stalls sell music CDs.Market infrastructure and management
The market is managed by the London Borough of Waltham Forest.Transport links
| London Buses | Walthamstow Bus Station 20 London Buses route 20 London Buses route 20 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:... , 34 London Buses route 34 London Buses route 34 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:... , 48, 58 London Buses route 58 London Buses route 58 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:... , 69 London Buses route 69 London Buses route 69 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:... , 97, 212 London Buses route 212 London Buses route 212 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to CT Plus.-History:... , 215, 230 London Buses route 230 London Buses route 230 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:... , 257 London Buses route 257 London Buses route 257 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:... , 275, 357, W11, W12, W15, W19 St James Street Station 158, 230 London Buses route 230 London Buses route 230 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:... , W12 |
| London Underground | Walthamstow Central  |
| National Rail | St James Street St James Street railway station St James Street railway station is in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in north east London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3, on the Chingford branch of the Lea Valley Lines. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East Anglia.... , Walthamstow Central Walthamstow Central station Walthamstow Central is a London Underground and commuter rail station. It is the terminus of the Victoria line, and is on the branch of the London commuter rail network operated by National Express East Anglia... |