Darwen Market The Old Glass Shed

A Memory of Darwen.

I was born in Cranberry Lane in 1957 and I remember the old market very well. There was the 'pot man', Annie and her second hand stall and the old market cafe. In summer there was the ice-cream man near the steps at Railway Road. Later on I worked on the market after school and on Saturdays for Betty who sold underwear and for Mrs Jones who sold remnants of fur fabric. My mother had a stall later on selling handbags. I also recall the lady who sold potted shrimps in the doorway of the market hall. I always thought the market was a wonderful place, especially when it was lit up on a winter's day, but how grateful we were for the mugs of steaming tea from the cafe to ward off the cold.