CAMDEN MARKET

See Also: CARNABY STREET; FOOD MARKETS, FORMER Spitalfields Market; MUSIC VENUES The Electric Ballroom; PORTOBELLO MARKET; ROADS The London Box; MENU

In the mid-1970s there was a scheme to build through Camden Town part of the London Box road system that the Greater London Council had proposed. As a result, Eric Reynolds and a couple of his associates bought the tail-end of the lease on Dingwalls, an old packing case factory that was sited next to Camden Lock on the Regent's Canal. They were gambling that the road scheme would not happen. They divided up the building into a series of retail and workshop units that were rented out at low rents. Peter Gross opened a restaurant, Le Routier, and a music venue, Dingwalls. Initially, the market was just held on Saturdays. The road scheme was cancelled and in 1976 the market was allowed to trade on Sundays as well. By the early 1980s it had become a standing feature of London weekend life, by the end of the decade it was a renowned tourist attraction.

Location: Camden Lock, NW1 8AF (orange, turquoise)

Website: www.camdenmarket.com

Inverness Street

Inverness Street is the only publicly-run portion of Camden Market.

Location: Inverness Street, NW1 7HJ (orange, pink)

See Also: STREET MARKETS

David Backhouse 2024