Rare chance to see market heritage on show

Sep 26 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A RARE glimpse of Newcastle and Gateshead’s market heritage spanning more than a century is going on show next week.

More than 250 photographs, adverts and memorabilia dating back to the 1880s make up the exhibition at the North East Wholesale Fruit Market in Gateshead, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The team behind the show has also produced a DVD showing how the various Newcastle fruit and vegetable markets came together at a new site at the Team Valley in 1968. Money raised from the DVD sales will go to St Oswald’s and Willowburn Hospices.

One of the main driving forces behind the exhibition is Brian Moon, chairman of the Gateshead market for 16 years.

He started working in the Green Market in the mid-1960s, moved to the ‘new’ one when it opened and remained there until he retired in 2001.

He said: “The photos have come from all over the place – various archives, the Central Library, members still in the fruit trade and whose forebears started their company.”

The exhibits include a magazine from 1929 featuring the original Newcastle markets and shots from outside St Andrew’s Church in Newcastle.

“In the late 1800s, market traders and farmers traded outside the church. That’s where the market started,” said Mr Moon.

“The Green Market was started to clear the streets. It was for wholesale and the public and we have pictures at the weekends when the public were allowed in.”

The exhibition takes place from Wednesday until Saturday between 11am and 3.30pm at the Wholesale Fruit and Veg Market on Earlsway on the Team Valley. Entry is free.