The clock below reads 5.50am, and already the place is bustling with activity. If I recall rightly, I'd risen at three to arrive there, and the doors were open for trading from 5am. The Victorian building is located in the heart of the square mile of the City of London.
The wholesale fish market began trading here in 1875, but was scheduled to relocate later in 1982, to new premises at London's East End.
The lad above is a "Barrow-Boy", paid to lug pallets of freezing fish from a to b. Dozens of them darted to and fro as I continued to weave my way through the place.
Note the lit cigarette in the fishmonger's hand!
I have no idea why security took such umbrage to me snapping these shots, it was way before terrorism was seen as the daily threat it is now.
All eels are sold live.
As, of course, are the mussels and lobster (can't recall about the crab).
I knew I was being followed by two suited planks, and it was only a matter of time before I'd be stopped. Sure enough, they informed me photography was strictly prohibited. So I smiled sweetly and put my camera away.
For a bit.
(Don't you think this bloke in the centre, is a dead ringer for a young Lenny Henry?)
They soon re-appeared again to confiscate two reels of film from me and my trusty Kodak.
Gladly, by then I'd already had the wisdom to hide this third reel of precious gems well away and out of reach from their thieving, grasping mitts, stuffed firmly away as it was, way down deep inside my bra.
(Bloomin' Jobsworth's!)
The building still stands today, but reincarnated as an events arena, hosting such things as an MTV tribute to The Cure, and other likewise shenanigans.
I'm pleased I troubled to capture her in her older glory days.
53 comments:
Amazing how you could be considered a threat?????
Funny - we are having salmon tonight? lol!
Great shots! Wonder why photography was "strictly forbidden"? Was there something a bit illegal going on? hmmmm....
Hi Denise, enjoy your fish!
I have no idea why, Leslie, but it really p****d me off no end - some of my best shots were ripped away from me (hmph)..
what a neat piece of history! even if you had to sneak it to get it!
Hi TexWisGirl, I had forgotten all about these photos until I stumbled over them again, whilst having a good old clear-out - yeah, they made me smile!
What a fascinating look at this fish market/industry of a by-gone era. I was very interested in all of the nuances of that environment, and hope I can apply some of that to my re-write of DAW and the fish market on Ossabaw Island!
Pretty crazy that smoking was OK where they processed FOOD! I am so accustomed to a smoke free environment that it seems so strange.
Great shots!
Really great photos! How strange that photos weren't allowed.
And a fascinating story.
Hope all is well, been awhile since we heard from you!
Why was photography considered such a threat? Were they concerned about Norwegian Fish Spies?
I'm trying to imagine the smell in a place like that. Hope they were able to get rid of it, before it changed venues.
Perhaps it was the guy with his hand down his pants. lol
Great pics! That's something I have never seen. Nice view of history. Shame about the lost film. I'd have loved to have seen them.
How wonderful that you captured this treasure for posterity!
Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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dangerous women..great pictures.
Too bad about the stolen shots but what remains are just wonderful.
Excellent shots. They probably thought you had one of those lazer cameras that would kill everybody..
Aw Dan (hugging myself), what a warming thought that brings me, how lovely to think that!
I know Portia, I did a double take when I saw that pic - it made me smile to realise just how far our attitudes have changed.
Hi Ami, ah yeah, all is well, I just needed to catch up with a few things outside of bloggie-land for a while.
Who knows, Al - maybe they thought I was the Mathi Hari of the fish-slab??
Surprisingly Ms A, for a place like that it was pretty odor-free - guess they had a bunch of elves or something to magic the place clean every night?
Hi Cloudia, I had the pleasure of watching the sun rise over Primrose hill that morning - that alone was worth the effort I took - the photo's there were just an added bonus!
Hi Jackiesue, I had lots of fun that day (evil grin)..!
Oh thanks Hilary, the quality is pretty poor, but I was delighted to unearth these, they proved a true blast from the past!
Mark, how could they know? And there I thought I had it well hidden.. (sigh)
Photos from the bra - would have been a great title. Sure glad you pulled this off because these photos are historical now.
Have you ever eaten eel?
As you can see Bill, I've taken your suggestion on board (grin) - thanks for that!
You clever little sneak! Love the shot of the old codger digging in his wallet.
And um, no Bill, I never could quite bring myself to eat eel (ugh)!
Hiya Chewy-Pie, yeah, that's my favourite one too - although the print is quite damaged and scratched now. That face has seen a lot of life, hasn't it?
I enjoyed my visit to your blog. This post was wonderful. Glad you had the foresight to stash the film in a safe place, giggle. Not sure why they would be so strict about photography though. Perhaps things aren't in the up and up there. LOL Hugs
A lit cigarette! I yiyi.
These are great pics, but I'm glad my laptop doesn't have smell-o-vision. I'm guessing the place was, um, pretty fishy ;-)
xo jj
That's an interesting bit of espionage Shrinky. You must have pricked their consciences about something? - Dave
Hi Katherine, how lovely of you to drop by, welcome aboard! Hmmn, yes, maybe you could be on to something there?
Hiya JJ, y'know that's one of the things I remember being surprised about, it was pretty odor-free for a fish market!
Well now you come to mention it Dave, some of the characters in there certainly looked to be a wee bit on the dodgy side (grin)..
Glad you got these shots before the jobsworths stopped you. :)
Me too, Ake - happy days (smile)..!
Great shots - glad you managed to keep one roll.
Who is Lenny Henry?
Great photos.
I remember when everyone smoked all the time, even in food shops. A man who didn't smoke risked being thought of as a "poof" (which was probably the biggest sin possible, of course. Wife beaters where readily accepted into society in those days, remember?)
Great times, eh?
PS good to see you back already!
Makes me wonder what was so secretive that they took your film? Have you inspected these with a magnifying glass? I love mysteries! Glad you saved this roll!
Hi Secret Agent, oh sorry, Lenny Henry is a much loved UK comedian, but he ovbiously hasn't yet made it over in The States.
Darn, Barbara, had I thought of that at the time, I may have made my fortune black-mailing my silence - hmph, too late now, I guess (story of my life)!
Haaaaaaaaaaa, oh RC, those were the days alright,eh? Remember, my parents hailed from the Scottish highlands, up there, if you weren't a chain-smoking-roll-your-own, chronic alcoholic wife-beater, you were considered a shameful, sorry excuse for a man..
And um, yeah (blush), I've sneaked back in a tad sooner than planned - it's hard to break this blogging habit!
Glad you did capture it...
Back in the bad old days every now and then we'd head for the markets in the morning as the pubs used to be open there (long before 24 hours) and you could have a few before going to work.
Now a days you can't get your camera out in London without being pounced on by various people claiming anti-terrorist this and that - you can't take a photo of a bus or a bus stop... what a load of cobblers. If you are stood there with a camera looking like a tourist or photography buff... guess what, chances are that you are... and the terrorists will still do what they so with or without a stupid ban
Amazing that they took your film from you, but I'm so glad you thought ahead to save some. Great shots of a moment in time!
I think they wer theeving robbers!!! Wy was it a sekurity risk? Did they think yu wer a spy for Eel Pie Island?? Sheesh!
Grayte fotoes, Shrinky! I'm shor hiding them in yor laydy-bump pants helpt them no end.
I'm thinkin' it's that sneaky grin of yours. They thought you were an Inspector from the Health Department, come to document their fishy ways.
If they'd only known you as we know you,,,they'd have known where to look for that last film.
heh heh heh.
Glad you're back in the Blog Bidness!
Hi Jim, it sure brought back some smiles when I tripped over these again.
Hahaha, oh Bob, I wish you had been there, you would have been a GREAT spy!
Hiya Babs, I know, what on earth did they have to hide, for goodness sakes?? Ah, um, yeah, so much for me bowing out of here for a while, eh (blush)? I guesss I am just too adicted to stay out of here for long!
Oh, Shrinky, WHERE have I been?
I miss this.
Happy New Year to you! And to yours!
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