Borough Market has been around for over 1000 years. As we’ve learned in class, the globalization of London contributes to what makes the city thrive. The vast array of different ethnicities of food emulates the many different cultures that make London, London. Beyond eating some amazing food, Borough Market contributes to the rich history of London. It’s long-lived significance, location, and contribution to the sustainability of London, makes it a vibrant part of the city. Through the medieval market, the 16th and 17th centuries, death and rebirth, the wholesale era, and the Renaissance, it seemed as if Borough Market had been through it all... until June 3rd, 2017.
At one point in time, the London Bridge was the only thing connecting London to Southwark. This made it perfect for people trying to sell to travelers. “It’s rich commercial potential kicked off an epic struggle between authorities determined to regulate and profit from officially sanctioned markets and hordes of small traders who wanted to make as much money as possible with the least possible interference” (Borough Market). In April 1550, Edward VI sold Southwark, making it a part of the city. This allowed the market to extend to selling four days a week.
Within the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, order became a main theme of Borough Market. Market traders were supervised in order to make sure their goods were inspected and fair. There were rules set in place that required the market to be ordered in a certain way. Stalls had to be no more than a yard from the drainage channel running through the street (Borough Market). Beyond the pubs, brothels, and theaters lining the outskirts of the market, it also had problems with unlicensed trading.
In the death and rebirth period, the main issue with Borough Market was the congestion. The endless amount of people contributing to the madness of the street, lead congress to pass a bill that ceased trading. Eventually, the people petitioned and set out with hopes of an Independent Market, which would be placed away from the main road. “In February 1756 advertisements were placed stating that a ‘commodious place for a market is now preparing on the backside of Three Crown Court on the west side of the high street of the Borough and will be ready by the 25th March next for the reception of all country carriages and others bringing any kind of provisions to the said market’” (Borough Market). This is the Borough Market we know today.
The wholesale era is when a lot of things changed for Borough Market. During the 19th century, the market became known to only selling fruits and vegetables, in order to be known as a significant institution. This was driven by urbanization of south London, and the addition of the railway. The accessibility of the market increased because the railway was laid throughout the middle of the market.
In what seemed like just a blink of an eye, Borough Market became a thriving part of London life. The evolution of the market adds to the creation and thought of social progression and social change. As life, rules, transportation, and people were changing, the market has been adapting to that too. The sense of excitement that comes from the traders that are still around, sensibly mirrors those who started it in the medieval era. Walking around Borough market and feeling the sense of history, without really knowing how in depth and how much it contributed to the history of London, made this spectacle something special. The bridge that is still there that brings people from the city, makes me believe that sometimes history doesn’t really need to change and that time isn’t always moving. Sometimes it can be frozen and we can see the faded resemblance of the 1000 year old market.
Then June 3rd, 2017 striked. Another added part of history that contributes to the vibrant bustling of the market. On that day, roughly a year ago, a terrorist attack took place in which three men drove a van into people walking on London Bridge, which then descended into Borough Market. It killed 8 people and injured 48 others.
This Market has survived through so many centuries of trauma, change, financial degradation, and corruption. While it may seem like there were so many negatives that contributed to the making of this market, the way Borough Market still thrives and prospers is admirable. There are so many similarities that mirror the early birth of the market, yet so many differences that allows it to coincide social change. The history behind this foodie destination, was more than I ever imagined, which adds to the richness of the insightful past of Borough Market and contributes to my understanding of London culture.
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