Comments on: Lucinda Douglas-Menzies At Billingsgate Market

By: John

John — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 21:55:49 +0000

Some familiar old faces in these pics including one of Kenny West in first image “i get mucking fuddled” who used to have shops in Ridley Road, Shepherds Bush, Harlesden, and Queens Market.

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 17:20:36 +0000

Wonderful photographs from Lucinda. I can smell the fish and hear the banter.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 11:46:50 +0000

Wait a minute — That fish tail, on the left edge of the ice house photo looks like a movie prop.
I keep squinting at the photo, trying to get a sense of the scale of the room.
This is a wonderful series! — One can easily imagine the hubbub, the humor in the midst of the
daily tedium, the sense of collegial tradition, and the dedication to “get r done”. I agree –
a vital social record of a disappearing way of life.
Our Washington Market here in Lower Manhattan has a somewhat similar history of being a vital, teeming early-hours market full of hucksters, vans and produce. My husband was taken there as a small boy by his grocer grandfather, and (decades later) we ended up buying a loft in one of the buildings; part of the so-called Urban Pioneer efforts in 1978. New York City had zero interest in the area and there wasn’t any political support for the transformation — but the residents banded together and made sure the area was eventually “landmarked”; officially designated (ahem) The Washington Market. Without the dedication of residents, so many of those remarkable buildings and cobbled streets would be gone by now, replaced by steel
towers and parking lots. Preservation!

By: Coralie Mattys

Coralie Mattys — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 11:14:17 +0000

Really great – thanks! I see there was at least one woman in a man’s world – Mrs E Flinn

It would be interesting to see a “where are they now?” follow-up of any of the people whose names you know.

Thanks!

By: Sarah Ainslie

Sarah Ainslie — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:23:39 +0000

Lucinda’s photographs are wonderfully evocative and love the extraordinary ice house.

By: Jamie Surman

Jamie Surman — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 08:10:18 +0000

What a find! Very important social record of one of the last vestiges of ‘old London’. Only pity is there aren’t more pictures. Bravo as always for publishing the ones you have…

By: Georgina Briody

Georgina Briody — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 06:34:18 +0000

As a child I remember this area, the old cobbled road and the hustle and bustle of the Market and porters – so clear in my mind.