Durham market continues to shine

Jan 22 2009 by Graeme King, The Journal

MULTI-million pound plans to rejuvenate the historic Market Place in Durham were launched last week. Graeme King looks at the history of market trading in the city, and hears a rallying call for us to return to them in a time of recession.

DURHAM is a unique city in its geography, history and atmosphere, and that distinctiveness seems to be at the heart of the success enjoyed by its markets.

While some cities have struggled to keep market traders operating successfully, the markets in Durham are thriving and – while not looking forward to the tough economic times ahead – traders appear to be feeling confident that their goods and services will continue to prove popular.

The core of the market experience in the city is the Durham Indoor Market, which sits just off the famously picturesque Market Place, in a prime spot to attract both local custom and tourists from farther afield.

Despite the onset of recession, traders there are reporting improved sales.

Managing director Colin Wilkes is responsible for the success of the attraction, and is proud to boast that the 50+ traders attract some two million visitors every year.

He is well aware of the history of market trading in Durham and wants to build on that in the 21st century. While the city council’s Durham City Vision has just announced it has £5.25m set aside to revive and refurbish the city’s Market Place, to provide an improved space for outdoor stalls, Durham Markets Company has been investing in market trading for many years.

Mr Wilkes says: “I’m a passionate believer in the market being at the heart of the community – we provide a service, a resource, entertainment, a social experience which can be used and enjoyed by everyone from visitor to resident and we are also a source of employment for a wide variety of local independent traders.

“In this current economic climate, markets are now seen as a very tangible provider of value for money, quality goods.”

Durham Markets Company is a private limited company which was incorporated by an Act of Parliament over 150 years ago in 1851. It is the oldest privately-owned business still operating in Durham city centre.

The first markets in Durham were thought to have been established around 1000AD and were originally held on Palace Green but, by the early 12th century, it is thought the market would have re-located to its present site at the junction of Silver Street and Saddler Street.

Shops and houses then developed around the Market Place and the site became a focal point for traders to buy and sell their wares alongside farmers, butchers, greengrocers and shoemakers.

In 1839, a survey was carried out to assess the need for a new market, and on a market day, described as ‘less crowded than usual’, there were 80 butchers’ stalls, as well as 100 other stalls in the Market Place alone, with a further 100 carts in Claypath, eight in Silver Street, 40 in Back Lane and 36 in New Elvet – a total of 364 traders’ carts in the city centre.

When the Durham Markets Company Act was enacted in May 1851, it enabled the construction of a market building, within which weekly Saturday markets could be held. It took nearly two years to acquire all the land, but eventually a structure by London architect Philip Charles Hardwick was built, and it opened in December 1852.

Various organisations took advantage of such a large covered space in the city centre, which could be hired for other purposes.

It was used as a parade hall; a concert hall; a dog and poultry show; a floral show; as a venue for servants’ hirings and even – in 1881 – a visit of the American evangelists Sankey and Moody, with an estimated 3,500 people present.

In more recent times, the indoor market has expanded its operations, with the traditional Friday and Saturday markets being augmented by Thursday trading from 1983 and then, in 1996, more than £800,000 was spent refurbishing the market hall and moving to six day a week trading.

Since 1999, the Durham Markets Company has also been responsible for a monthly farmers’ market which has proved very successful.

Inside, it is the range of traders which seems to have made the market a success story, with services as diverse as quilting and haberdashery materials, hand-made leather shoes, a seamstress, guitar sales, a pet stall, picture framing and more traditional cards and gifts.

So why does the managing director believe it thrives while other markets decline and high street shops struggle?

Mr Wilkes said: “It’s difficult to pinpoint, but the calibre of the traders is one thing and the quality of what we offer. It’s an experience here – you can wander your way round, there is no prescribed route, no defined sight lines.

“We work together with shopping centres in the city centre to attract people here. Individually, we are not a sufficient draw, but collectively we are an attraction.

“If people come to Durham, after the cathedral and castle, we are number three on their list. We play an important part in the economic wellbeing of the city centre. When the market is thriving, it gives everyone a bit of a fillip.”

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