AMAZING MARKETS AND HOLMES

Day 3 

Our morning started with breakfast and a plan which quickly changed. All that really changed was the sequence we decided to visit the mornings markets. 

We boarded the Jubilee Line to London Bridge Station where we transferred to the Northern Line traveling South to Elephant and Castle.  From the Underground station we walked down Walworth street to the East Street Market. 

As a side, note the name Elephant and Castle is derived from a knife makers guild’s who produced knifes in this area The Elephant and Castle were their trade mark. 

East Street Market is one of London's oldest, largest and busiest markets. There are a wide a variety of goods offered, from fresh fruit and vegetables to African clothing and materials.

There has been street trading in the Walworth area since the 16th Century, when farmers rested their livestock on Walworth Common before continuing to the city. 

East Street is also famous for being the Birth Place of Charlie Chaplin. 

We made our way back to the Elephant and Castle Underground and travelled to Bermondsey, where we alighted on foot to find the  Bermondsey market, sometimes called the New Caledonia Market. 

The Guinness Trust Buildings we passed the day before. 

Where were we not to attach bikes??

The Bermondsey Antique Market has a wide range of antiques. Here traders sell everything  from cutlery to furniture and china, books and jewelry and more. It is rather fun to meander about and window shop. I did find a Pie Bird which was not to be passed up. 

PIE BIRDS 

From the Bermondsey Market we walked back towards the London Bridge Underground station and to the Borough Market.  Thus far, this is the king of the foodies markets we have yet to experience, everything from fresh butchered meats, fresh produce, to pies, to pastries, to sandwiches, juices and wine.  The market is bustling and thriving, humming with activity. I believe it is a location where many chefs come to shop for their restaurants daily needs. 

Borough Market has existed in one form or another for around 1,000 years. 

Continuing on in celebration of National Pie Week we purchased a Cornish Pasty, meat and veg. Then a custard pastry for dessert. 

We  next ventured to the Embankment Underground Station. As we were rather early for The London Walks Sherlock Holmes Walk, we found refuge in the Princess of Wales Pub.  Soon it was time for the 1400 meet up and the rain decided to start falling. London Walks take place rain or shine. 

Oh Look a Cabbie Shelter!!! Best Bacon Sandwiches in my book, price is up to 2 Pounds 

Our Guide was Richard the 4th, as he was the 4th guide named Richard hired by London Walks. 

Again London Walks did not disappoint. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his writings of the Sherlock Holmes stories were the featured theme.  Interestingly, the Holmes stories were penned over a 40 year period from 1886 to 1926.  Doyle was a medical doctor by trade but made a pretty penny as an author. As a doctor he did practice at the Charing Cross Hospital to which there are references made in some of the Holmes stories. As a doctor it seems fitting he and Watson shared the same profession. 

It seems the character of Watson was used to ground Holmes and serve as the normal to Holmes’ eccentricities. 

Interesting that it was the Strand Magazine which propelled Holmes into the limelight when the Sherlock Holmes  short stories were published. 

Many of the locations mentioned in the Holmes stories were fictional, yet oft based on similar location. One place not created by Doyle was Simpson’s Restaurant, which was mentioned by name in three different stories. 

A lot of Holmes physical characteristics were brought to life by Sydney Patchet, an illustrator for Strand Magazine. He is credited with giving Holmes the classic Dear Stalker Style Hat. The meerschaum pipe came into being as a prop for a Holmes stage play, as a nice large pipe was easy to see by the audience. 

We ended the walk here. With a visit up stairs to see the sitting room. 

We then passed through Covent Gardens Market and this Market is where Holmes and Watson came on the trail of the thief who stole the Countess of Morcar’s famed jewel the Blue Carbuncle from the Hotel Cosmopolitan. 

  

On this trip I have learned about Samuel Pepys  (1633-1703) who was an English naval administrator (With no Naval experience), Member of Parliament and Fellow of the ROYAL SOCIETY, but is now best remembered for the diary which he kept through the 1660s. It was first published in 1825, and has ever since been considered a unique historical source and human document.

“Strange to see how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody.”

So with a good meal in mind, we stopped at The Minories and had their fish and chips before making out way back to our hotel. 

Thank You Very much for reading and following along.