Imagine someone stealing your petticoat at one end and selling it back at the other. That’s just one story about Wentworth Street Market. Today, we are standing at the historic Wentworth Street Market, a place brimming with stories. It is one of London’s oldest and most famous markets. Wentworth Street Market is part of Petticoat Lane Market. Petticoat Lane Market consists of Wentworth Street Market and Middlesex Street Market.
For over 400 years, the market has been known for its diverse goods. Bargain clothes, fabrics, food, and jewelry are all on offer. It is a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors from around the globe.
Petticoat Lane is split into two markets. The Wentworth Street market operates six days a week. The Middlesex Street market is only open on Sundays. Visiting on a Sunday lets you see up to 1,000 stalls. Alan Sugar, a famous businessman, began his career with a stall in Petticoat Lane.
The market gained formal recognition and legal trading rights in the 1930s. However, it has been a market site for centuries. The area was rural and known as Hogs Lane in the Tudor period. Street names were descriptive before signs and literacy. Hogs Lane might refer to bakers’ pigs or a droving road for livestock.
By the 17th century, London expanded and became more commercial. Peticote Lane was its first reference in the early 1600s. Cheap and second-hand clothes were sold here. The area became busier later in the 17th century.
Huguenot weavers escaping persecution in France moved to Spitalfields. They boosted the area’s reputation for clothes and woven goods. Jewish and East Asian immigrants also shaped the market. The Sunday market tradition continued because Jewish people wanted to shop on Sundays due to their Sabbath.
Wentworth Street Market has a notorious past. Criminals and suspicious activities were common. In Victorian times, you might have your petticoat stolen and resold to you. The Lane was known for fences buying stolen goods. Ikey Solomon, a notorious fence, ran a jewelry shop as a front.
The market was sometimes unsafe. Victorians saw it as long, narrow, filthy, and a modern Babel. Respectable people avoided it. This was partly due to attitudes toward the local Jewish community. The East End was crowded, unsanitary, and full of criminals. It was also in Jack the Ripper territory.
Before formal recognition, police regularly raided Wentworth Street Market. Police cars and fire engines disrupted activities until it became legal. Petticoat Lane itself no longer exists. Its name changed to Middlesex Street in the 1800s. Victorians disliked the reference to underwear. Wentworth Street Market is close to Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets, which are worth visiting on Sundays.
Today, Wentworth Street Market thrives. It remains one of London’s most popular tourist spots. It is open every Sunday. The market offers clothes, fabrics, food, and jewelry. Bargains, special offers, and discounts are often available. Fashion and textile stalls line the street along with street food sellers. The market is open on Wentworth Street from Monday to Friday and Middlesex Street on Sundays.
If you plan to visit, go early to avoid crowds. Wear comfortable shoes because the market is spread out. Be ready to haggle because traders are willing to bargain. Wentworth Street Market lets you experience London’s history and culture. The market is full of character with something for everyone.
Notably, in 1893, the London County Council identified 112 street markets citywide. The largest was Wentworth Street. When fully operational, 335 stalls pitched in rows blocked all traffic. The market ran all week but peaked on Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings. This reflected the Shabbat observance of the Jewish community.
So, next time you are in London, be sure to explore Wentworth Street Market.