I was brought up in Mansfield. The main market was a big feature, so I was pleased when I cam across this black and white sketch, dated 1971, and had it framed. It is from the viewpoint of the balcony outside the town hall, looking down on the merry-go-round.
Tucked in the corner of it I have a coloured postcard, date unknown, but not very different from the sketch judging by the clothes and van. This time the photo is from the opposite side of the market.
In the middle of the market square is the crumbling Bentinck Memorial, a Gothic eyesore, which probably prevented the market being enclosed.
The stalls were packed very close together, and it was usually crowded of a Saturday. I made my first shirtwaister dress, shades of blue with large tipsy white squares, from one of the material stalls (ca. 1963?). Mum's favourite stall was the seconds from the hosiery factories. Dad like the fish stall, with expensive crab's claws, which took so long to prepare and irritated the dermatitis on his hands, but he thought worth it "it's a taste". Fruit and veg were dominated by a double length stall run by the Troop family. I was at school with one of the boys, who went to work on it later on. They were known as the market "leaders" for price setting (i.e. the other stall holders took their cue from them), and must have made a fortune. The front of the stall was always fresh-looking and inviting, with pyramids of items. Of course, they always served from the back! I just did a quick Google and am impressed to see they are still going strong as a business, now the fifth generation of them.
Tucked in the corner of it I have a coloured postcard, date unknown, but not very different from the sketch judging by the clothes and van. This time the photo is from the opposite side of the market.
In the middle of the market square is the crumbling Bentinck Memorial, a Gothic eyesore, which probably prevented the market being enclosed.
The stalls were packed very close together, and it was usually crowded of a Saturday. I made my first shirtwaister dress, shades of blue with large tipsy white squares, from one of the material stalls (ca. 1963?). Mum's favourite stall was the seconds from the hosiery factories. Dad like the fish stall, with expensive crab's claws, which took so long to prepare and irritated the dermatitis on his hands, but he thought worth it "it's a taste". Fruit and veg were dominated by a double length stall run by the Troop family. I was at school with one of the boys, who went to work on it later on. They were known as the market "leaders" for price setting (i.e. the other stall holders took their cue from them), and must have made a fortune. The front of the stall was always fresh-looking and inviting, with pyramids of items. Of course, they always served from the back! I just did a quick Google and am impressed to see they are still going strong as a business, now the fifth generation of them.
That brings back memories - I lived in Ollerton 1964- 71 and used to love going to Mansfield to the market
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