I love the area known as Spitalfields, it’s steeped in history. It began as a market in the 13th century in a field next to St Mary's Spittal, on the edge of the Square Mile. In 1638 Charles I gave a licence for flesh, fowl and roots to be sold in what was then called Spittle Fields, and in 1682 Charles I gave John Balch, a silk thrower, a Royal Charter to hold a market.
I enjoyed a visit to Dennis Sever's House, which is just around the corner:
where Huguenot silk weavers used to live. The rooms in the house have been recreated as a time capsule.
The original wholesale fruit and vegetable market was moved to New Spitalfields Market in Leyton in 1991. The building was redeveloped in the 1990's but still keeps some of the the original character of the old market hall.
There’s a fine food market in the heart of Spitalfields Market, in the newly created Crispin Place with over 20 traders.
This market takes place every Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
There's stalls selling koftas and croissants:
and lovely cakes like apple strudel:
Montezumas, voted as one of The Guardian's Top 10 Ethical Chocolate Companies, have a shop here:
and there's some interesting none-food shops, like this one which recycled old beer bottles into glasses:
and I also managed to get myself a new T shirt:
If you only visit one shop in Spitalfields, make sure it's Androuët, which I'll cover in the next post.
Old Spitalfields Market
105a Commercial Street
London
E1 6BG
Web: www.visitspitalfields.com/stalls/food.html
Comments