The Market
When I was young, Mum and Dad sold jewellery on Leicester Market. I’d sit beneath their stall and watch the skip boys hauling laden containers, the lightbulb man fixing bulbs into swinging flexes and stilettos click clacking on the cobbles.
A quadragintal is a blog of exactly 40 words.
This cartoon of the lightbulb man was drawn by Mick Wright
for my Jewish Voices book. He produces excellent cartoons and
caricatures and you can contact him at Mick Wright.
You can watch a video of the market here.
I didn't know it was the biggest covered market in Europe!
ReplyDeleteI remember all the sellers yelling out their items and the prices. Kind of miss it a little now!
Duncan In Kuantan
I've been checking out your blog since the A-Z started and you've got me hooked on Leicester. I never knew it was full of treasures. Why do we pronounce it "lester"? Any ideas?
ReplyDeletethat market seems to have a little bit of everything doesn't it! I want to go
ReplyDeleteI don't know why Leicester is pronounced 'Lester', Lauracea. If anyone knows I'd love to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteAnd a market too! Goodness, why am I not living in Leicester????
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have expected the largest to be in the UK at all, maybe southern Europe or the Middle-East. Don't think I've ever been to Leicester, only driven past it many a time.
ReplyDeleteGreat video, and what a terrific, bustling place. I think my next novel will need a scene at a market.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it was the oldest covered market! How cool!
ReplyDeleteIt looks nice and clean, and sounds like a fascinating place for a child.
ReplyDeleteThat market looks huge, huge.I always like the noise and smells of a big market. I bet you have some fond memories of it as a child.
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a cool place. I'm loving this trip through Leicester.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm on vacation when I come by here. It's something I look forward to doing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTo answer baygirl32 - it's all to do with the historical name. Originally Ligore then Ligeraceaster then Ledecestre then Leicester...add that to the English (well, probably, more widespread actually) habit of shortening everything and you've got Lesta.
ReplyDeleteLoving your blog Rosalind. Looking forward to X...
I would so love to visit; I love open markets~
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I can imagine you little on the cobblestones ;-D
Thanks for all your comments and thanks to Ned for his info about the pronunciation of Leicester. I never knew that... but I do know what I'm doing for X!
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