The Caledonian Market

Before there was eBay, there was the Cally Market.

This enormous market sold everything from antique silver to second-hand false teeth, and was one of the sights of London. For sellers like Jane Brown the companionship of the thousands of stallholders was far more entertaining than working in a shop.

For buyers the market offered cheap household goods, affordable second-hand clothes and the hope of snapping up an amazing bargain. The market closed in 1939 and was later moved to Bermondsey.

The drawings and watercolours featured in this video production are by Clifford Hall (1904-1973) and used by kind permission of the artist’s estate.

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