If you’re a town centre local, you probably already know that Surrey Street Market turned 750 this year, as 1276 was the year the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Kilwardby, granted a charter allowing Croydon to run markets and fairs.

You may have already walked through Surrey Street’s fitting new gateway in honour of the anniversary, with interpretation for market-goers to discover more about its origins (Surrey Street was actually called Butchers Row back in the day – for obvious reasons). Or perhaps you’ve passed Vic Lee’s 18-metre mural on the High Street opposite Grants, which shares some of the market’s history, from medieval fairs and Regency-era breweries to more contemporary stories, such as a visit from the now King Charles in the 90s, or Croydon’s musical heritage in the form of the famous second-hand vinyl store Beanos and Big Apple Records, the birthplace of dubstep.

If you haven’t popped by recently, the good news is that there are more market events to come, with a celebration of Surrey Street next Friday, 13 November, followed by a talk with artist Vic Lee on Wednesday 18 November.

Some years ago, we very much enjoyed a talk by Vic about his work at a design industry event, so I suspect tickets to this free Braithwaite Hall event will deservedly be snapped up rather quickly. He’s not just an artist but a storyteller, and thus a very engaging speaker. His work, which spans murals, painting, typography, books, public art and ceramics, explores human behaviour, curiosity and the stories hidden within everyday life.

We asked Vic what he discovered that surprised him most when researching Croydon’s history for the mural:

‘I think the thing that stood out for me was the Walnut Fair. And all the stories that came with it. It’s what makes a place. From the elephant that walked miles and seemingly was not noticed by anyone as it trod its way from Shirley to Croydon town centre. How gingerbread men were called husbands. And just the amount of walnuts sold was extra extraordinary.

‘I wanted to include as much as I could about the Walnut Fair from the history books and fact checking. So a large proportion of the mural is dedicated to that. And including visuals to emphasise the stories. The Fair played an integral part in the yearly celebrations in Croydon for the locals and businesses alike.’

The mural was commissioned by Croydon Council’s Culture Team, and Caterina Loriggio, who led the project, points out that her ‘favourite thing about the artwork is all the small details which demand a really long and close look, they can make you chuckle or warm your cockles. Many pieces look decorative to most of us, but to others hold great meaning. For example, in the banner surrounding the 750 insignia you will find nicknames from current and past traders, fabulous names like Icky, Bocky and Acky, Dave the Shoe and What What’.

Next Friday, there’ll be an extended lunchtime of celebrations (11.30am–2pm), where visitors will be treated to a selection of performances from Croydon’s many communities: Croydon-based Rhythm Generation with West African music; South Asian dance company Beeja Dance performing to the tunes and rhythms of Bollywood; and Global Grooves bringing their giant carnival puppets, Padmini and Sivaji. Vegetable Nannies and The Learned Pig (who made an appearance at the recent Croydon Harvest featuring the Walnut Fair) will also be joining in the festivities.

So if you haven’t yet joined in the celebrations to mark the market’s 750 years, then this month is the time to do so!

Head down for the free celebrations on Friday 13 November (11.30am–2pm) and/or book a free space at Vic Lee’s talk on Wednesday 18 November (6–7.30pm), at the Braithwaite Hall – tickets here.

Images courtesy of the Culture Croydon team. Mural photos by Chris O’Donovan, last two photos by Vipul Sangoi.

Posted by Julia