Camden Market: Difference between revisions

The '''Camden markets<!--markets with lower-case "m"-->''' are a number of adjoining large retail markets, often collectively referred to as '''Camden Market''' or '''Camden Lock''', located in the historic former [[Pickfords]] stables, in [[Camden Town]], [[London]]. It is situated north of the Hampstead Road [[Lock (water transport)|Lock]] of the [[Regent's Canal]] (popularly referred to as [[Camden Lock]]). Famed for their cosmopolitan image, products sold on the stalls include crafts, clothing, [[bric-a-brac]], and [[fast food]]. It is the fourth-most popular visitor attraction in London, attracting approximately 250,000 people each week.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article93042.ece | title = Crashes and near misses could derail the privatised Tube | work = news.independent.co.uk | publisher = The Independent |author=More for less | date = 26 October 2003 | accessdateaccess-date = 27 October 2008 | location = London |archiveurl url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226141531/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article93042.ece |archivedatearchive-date=26 December 2007}}</ref>

A small local foodstuffs market has operated in Inverness Street in Camden Town since the beginning of the 20th century, the only significant market in the area. On 30 March 1974 a small weekly crafts market that operated every Sunday near Camden Lock developed into a large complex of markets.<ref>{{cite web | urltitle=The Early Years | publisher=Camden Market | date=Jan 20, 2016 | url=https://www.camdenmarket.com/journal/the-early-years | title archive-url= The https://web.archive.org/web/20190711191741/https://www.camdenmarket.com/journal/the-early -years | publisher archive-date=Jul 11, | date =2019 | accessdate url-status= 11 July 2019live}}</ref> The markets, originally temporary stalls only, extended to a mixture of [[market stall|stalls]] and fixed premises. The traditional Inverness Street market started losing stalls once local [[supermarket]]s opened; by mid-2013 all the original stalls had gone, being replaced by stalls similar to those of the other markets, including fast food but not produce.

In 2016, Urban Markets Company acquired Camden Lock and paid between £300m and £400m for the one-acre site. The joint venture between the founders of Camden Lock and Millitarne Retail Resorts International, the retail developers, was financed by Brockton Capital, a real estate private equity fund.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/53206e24-3e01-11e1-91ba-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3epO5KNYn | title = Urban Market Company acquires Camden Lock | work = the Financial Times | date = 13 January 2012 | accessdateaccess-date = 3 July 2015}}</ref> Camden Lock Market is set to have a £20 million makeover to transform it into a traditional arts and craft centre for Londoners. The Urban Market Company plans to double the enclosed area and increase trading space by 15,000 square feet.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/camden-lock-markets-20m-bid-to-lure-londoners-9608848.html | title = Camden Lock Market's £20m makeover to lure Londoners | work = London Evening Standard | date = 16 June 2014 | accessdateaccess-date = 3 July 2015}}</ref>

Early on 10 July 2017, shortly after midnight, a large fire (cause currently unknown) occurred at the Camden Lock Market. At least 70 firefighters and 10 engines attended.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenfield|first=Patrick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/10/firefighters-battle-large-blaze-at-londons-camden-lock-market|title=Camden Lock market fire: large blaze brought under control|work=The Guardian|date=10 July 2017|accessdateaccess-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Fire">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40552451 |title=Camden Lock Market fire: Seventy firefighters at blaze |date=10 July 2017 |work=BBC News |accessdateaccess-date=10 July 2017}}</ref>

The Stables Market was owned by [[Bebo Kobo]], [[Richard Caring]] and Elliot Bernerd of Chelsfield Partners until 2014. It was sold in 2014 for $685&nbsp;million and is owned today byto Market Tech PLC, a UK AIM listed public company, later named LabTech.<ref name=forbes/> The market is located in the historic former [[Pickfords]] stables and Grade II [[Listed building|listed]]<ref>{{NHLE |num=1258100 |desc=Horse hospital with ramps and boundary wall|accessdateaccess-date=31 October 2012}}</ref> horse hospital which served the horses pulling Pickford's distribution vans and barges along the canal. Many of the stalls and shops are set in large arches in railway viaducts.

During the weeks before Christmas 2004, radio DJ and TV presenter [[Chris Evans (presenter)|Chris Evans]] sold many of his possessions, ranging from sofas to TVs and crockery, on a stall in the Stables Market.<ref name="Market">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4048193.stm|title=Chris Evans back on the market|author=Thomas, Rachel|work=BBC News|date=27 November 2004|accessdateaccess-date=31 October 2012}}</ref>

In October 2006 a large indoor market hall was built in a yard between the Stables Market and Camden Lock Market that was previously used for temporary open-air stalls. In the summer of 2007 redevelopment of the back of the Stables Market took place. This redevelopment consisted of two new four-storey buildings housing shops, food outlets, offices, workshops and storage facilities, as well as an exhibition space. The redevelopment included a new pedestrian route through the rear of the Stables Market exposing 25 of the existing railway arches. Pedestrian walkways—in the style of the existing historic ramp and bridge system—has opened up the site and increased access for visitors. A glass roof and cycle parking spaces has also been added.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/press/2006/october-2006/camden-council-planning-decision-on-stables-market.en;jsessionid=C0E31ED351AE64F7953779DD95CE5E01.node1 | title = Camden Council: Camden Council planning decision on Stables Market | publisher = Camden.gov.uk | access-date = | accessdate = 27 October 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081109061118/http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/press/2006/october-2006/camden-council-planning-decision-on-stables-market.en;jsessionid=C0E31ED351AE64F7953779DD95CE5E01.node1 | archive-date = 9 November 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

On 19 May 2014, at around 8:00 [[Post meridiem|p.m.]], a fire broke out at the Camden Stables Market on Chalk Farm Road where a reported 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters dealt with the blaze. No injuries were reported by the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade announced that the fire had been controlled since 9:00 [[Post meridiem|p.m.]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27480113 |title=Fire starts at Camden Stables market |work=BBC News |date=19 May 2014 |accessdateaccess-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Hawley Wharf, previously Canal Market and Camden Lock Village ===

Owned by Bebo Kobo and [[OD Kobo]], Camden Lock Village was the section along the canal to the east of [[Chalk Farm Road]] was known as the Canal Market and had a covered entrance tunnel leading into a general outdoor market. The market was devastated by fire on 9 February 2008 caused by unauthorised use of a liquified petroleum gas heater.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thecnj.com/camden/2008/072408/news072408_02.html?headline=Market_traders_were_warned_on_danger_heaters |title=Market traders were warned on danger heaters |work=Camden New Journal |date=24 July 2008}}</ref> After crossing the railway line, the fire badly damaged the rear of the Hawley Arms on Castlehaven Road.<ref>[http://www.thelondonpaper.com/galleries/hawley/ The Hawley Arms [[pub]] in Camden&nbsp;– before the fire destroyed it (thelondonpaper)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214174432/http://www.thelondonpaper.com/galleries/hawley/ |date=14 February 2008 }}</ref> The market reopened in May 2009 as the Camden Lock Village.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.camdenlock.net/canmarket/ | title = camden lock village |year=2009 | publisher = Best Of Camden Ltd | accessdateaccess-date = 27 May 2009}}</ref> The cover over the original street entrance was removed, and a new entrance created near the railway bridge.

The market closed in early 2015, asto thebe arearedeveloped isover beingseveral redevelopedyears at a cost exceeding £500m as Hawley Wharf.<ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.camdennewjournal.comco.uk/article/camden-market-closes-hawley-wharf-development-begins|url-status=live|title=Market closes down as Hawley Wharf development project begins|date=28 January 2015|author=Alina Polianskaya|work=[[Camden New Journal]]|access-date=2 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200124/http://www.camdennewjournal.com/camden-market-closes-hawley-wharf-development-begins#|archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The stalls were replaced by a four-storey covered structure, with units housing sixty fast-food providers, 150 shops, and co-working offices. The development also provided 200 homes. Hawley Wharf's sites started opening in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Hawley Wharf market site almost ready to open, but with less retail |last=Carrier |first=Dan |newspaper=Camden New Journal |date=7 May 2021 |url-status=dead https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/new-hawley-wharf-market-site-almost-ready-to-open-but-with-less-retail}}</ref>

=== Buck Street Market: 'The Camden Market' (closed down) ===

ThisThe Buckmarket Streetclosed marketin isits nowexisting closedform, downinitially during later postponed plans to renovaterebuild the[[Camden Town tube station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://camdennewjournal.com/article/end-of-an-era-as-camden-town-market-finally-closes-down|title=End of an era as Camden Town market finally closes down|date=16 September 2019|accessdateaccess-date=16 January 2020|work=[[Camden New Journal]]|first=Dan|last=Carrier}}</ref> It reopened as a multi-floor structure.

A small street market has operated in [[Inverness Street Market| Inverness Street]] near Camden Town Tube station since the late 19th century, mostly selling produce, rather than ready-to-eat food, until the 21st century. It started losing its traditional stalls once local supermarkets opened, a trend accelerated by the closing of a nearby bus stop which facilitated access;<ref>{{Cite news |title=Camden's oldest market in Inverness Street 'could go under' |last=HINTON |first=JOSIE |newspaper=Camden New Journal |date=11 February 2010 |url= https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/camdens-oldest-market-inverness-street-%E2%80%98could-go-under%E2%80%99}}</ref> by mid-2013 all the original stalls had been replaced by "touristy" stalls similar to those of the other markets, including fast food but not produce.