Description:Local people talking about Newcastle-under-Lyme market in 1968:-
Well, the market in the old days – it was a cross between an outdoor theatre and a market. If you wanted a good night’s entertainment – especially towards closing time or when they’d been and had a pot or two these stallholders – especially the crockery stalls… you were in for a real bit of sport, for the simple reason if you didn’t buy it they threw it at you rather than smashed it.
I remember once when an old black man used to come and bring his gig, and was drawing teeth. And he drew them with his thumb and finger. He asked you to get up onto his cart and he wouldn’t hurt you. And I’m sure it was true an’all, ‘cos I had one drawn by him.
The farmers used to lay their stuff on what we used to call “the stones” – on the ground. And they used to make it in squares. Each stallholder had his allotted distance, and laid his stall out according to what distance he’d got.
This film also features in the documentary; “Stoke-on-Film, 1960s”, produced by Ray Johnson.