Brierley Hill Market – 40 Faces

Markets have been at the heart of Brierley Hill for almost 200 years.  Presently undergoing a refurbishment as part of the towns Heritage Action Zone with support from Dudley Council and Historic England, the market has 40 stall holders – making it still one of the most thriving markets in the Black Country.  To celebrate its historic role in the town singer Natalie Knight and magician Thomas Dixon will be adding to the magic of the market.  Plus an opportunity to grab yourself a bargain from one of its stalls.

The origins of the market (extract from the Clulow Journal – available from the library)

“A tall, inoffensive young woman, a stranger to us, with a large white apron, came with basket and stores. She also brought a small round table, and placed it on the corner of the foot road at the top of Moor Street, on the side of the Brickmaker’s Arms, now a winery shop (actually now the site of the Moor Centre). Her first table was furnished with penny pies, halfpenny cakes, and half-penny long sucks. On account of the novelty of the stall, she soon disposed of all of her wares to eager looking customers.

“The next Saturday, she came also, with her dainties and white apron and white table cloth. This time she was joined by a vendor of fruit and other items. Soon these eatables were disposed of. On the third Saturday, half-a-dozen vendors of different sorts, were to be seen. Soon after that, stalls began to be created and erected by our shop neighbours from and around the place, causing a little jealousy to the High Street shopkeepers. So, at last, they nearly all turned out with stalls or tables, well-stocked, on a Saturday evening.”