On a recent Sunday, a small corner of my home town came alive with independent pop-up stalls and entertainment.
It was the first Wood Street Market in Wakefield. Walking there, I noticed yet more shops closing down or boarded up and to let. The recession and new shopping malls taking their toll.
As a kid, Wood Street had an impressive independent music shop; it’s where I went regularly for clarinet reeds and sheet music. It’s home to the town hall but now, frankly, there’s not much reason to go, except for probably the city’s best jewellery shop.
So it was heart-warming to turn a corner and see the street filled with colour and life. Organisers intended to help revitalise the street and in the run up to the event managed to create quite a buzz on social media. I was hopeful it would really work, and the vibrant mix of sellers, shoppers and entertainers brought a fat helping of fun and saw to it that it did.
The road was closed off and the street and pavements filled with art, vintage, craft and food stalls, cookery demonstrations, beer tasting, a craft swap and entertainment from The Magicians, Ossett Ukulele Group – who were great, by the way – and buskers.
> The Two Tarts bakery brought a huge dollop of fun and I stared longingly at their beautifully decked-out vintage VW camper.
> The jewellery and lampshades below and much more can be found at the ever-growing craft co-operative Created in Yorkshire.
> These lampshades and bags from vintage fabrics are made by the wonderfully-monikered Splanky Designs.
Apparently most of the stalls sold out, so here’s hoping it becomes a regular fixture and draws more people to the town centre.
Need to know: there are two more markets planned, on August 18 (when the theme will be seaside in the city) and September 15, both 10am-2pm. If you want know more, Wood Street Market is on Facebook and Twitter.
Anna - Angel In The North
