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Rag Market

  • Thread starter Thread starter harley
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I used to remember Tom who used to sell material. It was near the crockery in a good location. My mom and dad had a second hand clothes stall next to him. I used to go and help in late 50,s and 60’s. Dorothy and Donald. My uncle used to be there too Roy and Marie.
 
Although I never visited the rag market until I was a adult ( my mom thought travelling to the city centre from Kingstanding was like going abroad in my childhood lol) However, our next door neighbours Mr and Mrs Gregory had for a time their daughter and I guess her husband living with them. She apparently had a stall or helped at the rag market this I would guess around 1953 perhaps slightly later.
I remember she had a first name like Una or something similar.
Strange how somethings stick in your mind, but I remember the daughter wore Roman sandals which seemed really outgoing fashion for that time looking back.

Why I remember it was I around 6 perhaps 5 and played with Una’s son named Paul who was about the same time my first real friend who was there one day, and moved the next.
 
Does anyone remember who my friend and I called Barbara Streisand, in the old market, 1970s 1980s
Vivienne14 said:
Billy Graham speaking at the Rag Market in 1954.

Viv.

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Anyone remember a woman who looked like Barbara Streisand, she had a voice like a fog horn, this would be 1970s 1980s at the old Rag Market.
you could hear her booming voice over the crowds, she sold figurines and crockery, she shouted at anyone who touched her goods, even though the ones and the front was tat, one Friday she had a bra on over her jumper? my friend was scared of her LOL.
When the old market was bulldozed and the new hot in summer cold in winter one went up lots of the old sellers left, I did see Barbara selling bags I think in Solihulls Touchwood with a stall down a centre, I don't think she was allowed to shout in Touchwood like she did in the old rag market though.
 
An understatement Rosie she was not what you would call friendly, I miss the old market. and the faces you got to know, a great day out and then we went to Druckers for cake and coffee. I still have curtains up I made years ago from the material stall, fabulous bargains great people.
rosie said:
Yes I remember her! She was fierce, I'm surpised she ever sold anything, she scowled if you went near.
rosie
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I used to love visiting the rag market in the 1960s with my best friend. We used to buy secondhand fur coats and handbags to wear to our discos! My relative had a clothes stall there, she was called Irene and as I remember her, she looked like Pat Butcher but without the earrings.
 
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Ahh. Fond memories of the old Rag Alley. When I was 9 in 1956 I lost my father. Mom had 4 of us to clothe. We bought second hand skirts and jumpers for me in bottle green. The stall sold used military uniforms cheap. This was a Godsend to mom. I was always bought a sweet fish to go home with.
 
I have just read the old posting, from Alan, "Astonian", so prosaic, I really do miss him on the forum, I am grateful for the message, he sent me privately saying he was ill, and just before going into hospital. !!! he wa so knowledgeable, about many things, to do Birmingham from when I was a lad !!
 
The Rag Market Barbara Streisand’s real name was Ester. A regular seller at many of Birmingham’s Markets and Exhibitions and one of life’s great characters who always put on a good display, both visually and verbally. Woe betide anyone who questioned her prices. Stock reply in a very loud voice was,
“ Don’t say it’s expensive, just say you can’t afford it !”
 
Paul B said:
The Rag Market Barbara Streisand’s real name was Ester. A regular seller at many of Birmingham’s Markets and Exhibitions and one of life’s great characters who always put on a good display, both visually and verbally. Woe betide anyone who questioned her prices. Stock reply in a very loud voice was,
“ Don’t say it’s expensive, just say you can’t afford it !”
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You can say that again, she didn't need a loud hailer you could hear her when you walked in, my friend was scared of her Hahaha, lost lot's of characters when they pulled that lovely old building down. I did see her in Solihull Touchwood indoor shopping centre, she had a middle display of items, did see her a few times then nothing. Thanks for the info, nice put a name to the face thank you.
I still miss the old market it had atmosphere and felt friendly, unlike the tin shed cold in winter to hot in summer and lost great seller's.
 
That was probably the secret of her success: “ Don’t say it’s expensive, just say you can’t afford it ".
Folk were probably too embarrassed by that statement.
I guess we all see something that we consider expensive but are still within the reach of our finances.
 
In the 80s they used to hold a antique market every Monday
i was on night shift at IBM Hagley rd i used to nip out at 6am
i got some good stuff there as i was converting our first house back to circa 1930s
 
Donbogen said:
In the 80s they used to hold a antique market every Monday
i was on night shift at IBM Hagley rd i used to nip out at 6am
i got some good stuff there as i was converting our first house back to circa 1930s
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Hi, yes I remember it, I used to go more Fridays and knew by name many of the sellers, but did go to that antique market a few times, love antiques and the sellers had some great items at a fair price, Fridays went with my mate, Monday I liked to go alone, got some nice bargains. Wish you could turn the clock back, happy day's great people.
 
mw0njm. said:
i loved mooching there i got some very good cheap swag it was better than fleebay at least to could try the boots on before you payed:grinning:
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Love that word mooching, years since I've heard anyone say it, once at the market you would say " lets have a good mooch" we know what that means hahaha. That's got me going the need for a good old mooch. Thanks for that its tickled me pink.
 
There were a lot of stalls, it was huge. Me and my friend used to shop there for bags, coats and jewellery to wear at discos. My distant relative used to sell second hand clothes there, does anyone remember Irene? She looked a bit like Pat from Eastenders.
 
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Radiorails said:
During WW2 it was not a question of finance but that being the only place where some items were obtainable. A fascinating place for youngsters and you could see most walks of life including their various sayings and accents.
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1950s I spent hours at the late rag market, about 8 or 9 years old, this would be goods in and out for the market, if you went to that part, the boxed goods came in, for me in particular it was the Banana boxes, all wooden, oblonge and really well made, I was after, I would attach some string to the box, and dragged it home to Elvetham Road closer to Bell Barn Road, then chop it up into bundle's and sold them for firewood, because it was all coal fires then, I know because of cleaning the ashes out of the grate, then set the grate with paper then wood sticks, once the fire starts you can put the coal on, kept in a coal cellar within a yard, I used to set a small table to sell anything I found, its no surprise I ended up in sales and marketing. I really loved muching around and asking can I have that box please, you couldn't do that today but that was another age .
 
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