Unfortunately the first Alderley Edge Christmas Fair and Market was a rather wet affair, but traders and local residents who ventured out refused to allow the rain to dampen their spirits.
The monthly farmer's market came into the village centre on Sunday, 11th December, as stalls selling homemade food, cards and a selection of gifts lined London Road.
Lots of village traders also joined the celebrations, many of whom opened their doors especially, and Canalside Radio added to the festive atmosphere with lots of Christmas music.
Those who braved the rain seemed impressed with the selection and quality of products on offer. Unfortunately the children's rides were affected by the weather but the fancy dress dog show went ahead in the pouring rain with Deborah Heywood's weimaraner Belle crowned the winner.
Organiser Christine Munro said "Despite the weather lots of people came and it was great to see the entries for the fancy dress dog show. They were all winners.
"I do hope everyone who came enjoyed seeing all the delicious foods and crafts our local people produced. Our stallholders put a lot of effort into the day and each of the stalls looked really attractive with lots of choice for the customers.
"I would like to say a big thankyou to the customers for braving the rain, the producers and farmers who stood all day in the wet and cold, still with a smile on their faces, and to everyone who helped make the day a success, particularly my son Hugh and his partner Charlotte.
"Without their support and effort setting up and taking down the gazebos, and their organisational skills planning how it would work down the village, the day wouldn't have happened."
Katie Robb, Manager at Oxfam Bookshop, said "The shop was really busy. People seemed to be enjoying the fair despite the rain! It was a good event - hope we'll have it again next year. Lots of credit to Christine for organising it."
Wienholt's Bakery opened especially for the event, offering passers-by free samples of their Christmas cake and pudding. Heather Wienholt said "I felt it was nice to see the stall holders and the shop keepers trade together. These events are such a boost to village life and are a lot of fun."
If you visited the market yesterday do share your views on the event using the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I have heard though and understand that pavement access was difficult for some but, if once a year, we have to walk through crowds, surely it is worth it? People spend several hundreds of pounds a year going to German Markets abroad in order to get that vibrant experience, that said, without rain, but wouldn't even think about the difficulty of crowded cobbled streets. Even closer to home, the same is true of Ashbourne at Shrovetide. It's busy, it's buzzing, it's a huge boost to the town and, it's uplifting.
Let's just accept 'getting around' is a bit more difficult but if walking in the road against slow-moving traffic helps, then let's do it.
We are lucky enough to have a stall where we can sell our own honey and beeswax products in our own village, and we thought it was excellent to be out on London Road. Many, many thanks to our lovely customers for braving the rain, you made it well worthwhile for us.
Will the farmers' market continue on the street or in the Festival Hall each month on the 2nd Sunday? Either way we'll be there, come rain or shine. Thanks again to all.
There was an article on alderleyedge.com, also in the Wilmslow Express last week, there were leaflets in all the shops and libraries in Alderley Edge and surrounding areas, and the leaflets were distributed to all the schools in the area for the children to take home. I put an A board beside Barclays Banks on Monday of last week advertising it, and there was signage around Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.
I will try to think of a way to make the advertising more prominent next time, if there is a next time!! Sorry you missed it.
You are very welcome.
You do make an excellent point though; should the market exist 'on the street' rather than Farmers' Market, in the Festival Hall? I wouldn't want to deprive the Hall from some much needed income knowing that it needs a re-think on its use in the village but, imagine, once a month, seasonal produce 'on the high street', plants & flowers, pies, wine and artisan works. Alderley Edge is a difficult 'market' (no pun intended) to second guess re. sales and 'who is bothered' but with cafes, restaurants, etc. it could be a different Sunday out for many that is not: going to Handforth Dean, John Lewis or The Garden Centre......... something we do too frequently. Once a year I go to Kensington, London to the French quarter to buy a couple of French books. Every Saturday they close the street (equivalent to our George St. in terms of length etc.) from 10am - 2pm and the fresh produce is fantastic AND local shopkeepers e.g. butchers etc. do well also. If London Rd could only draw-in that type of response, once a month.
If the stall holders and 'costermongers' believe they could earn more with such events, that would be great, but, in truth, it will need your collective view on how it could progress.
Happy Christmas to you all.
It looked like it was a great event - will try harder next time ........
I also grew up in Alderley Edge, in fact I live in the house I was born in, and I care very much for the village.
I have been to the Treacle market once and it is hugely successful. Most of the producers who attend that market also attend the Alderley Edge Market which is held in the Festival Hall on the second Sunday of each month. The Treacle market has just completed its first year of trading and the Wilmslow Artisan Market has been going for 5 months. Both these markets have 60+ traders. The Alderley Edge market is in its 13th year and has between 35-40 traders.
Have you been to the Alderley Edge Market? How do you suggest we improve it so we can compete with these two giants. We feel a bit like David in between two Goliaths. Is bringing it outside into all the elements the answer?
Having been brought up in East London where, in local markets, my parents bought meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and clothes (no artisan stuff on Roman Rd., Bow in the 60's and 70's, not even bread!) but what worked was having covered stalls, pretty much joined up, and people walked by and bought because they had to but also were used to doing so.
I've been to Wilmslow market twice and, in my opinion, they seem to be developing that traditional model of back-to-back linking stalls. Yes, 'we buyers' get wet but, the produce and products are preserved and, when several stalls are connected, it has that 'street feel' to it rather than isolated sellers. Maybe even the charity shops could put up some promotional offers on stalls to add further interest? And clothes? I'm not saying go as far as what is in Albert Square but maybe Wilmslow 6th form and Macc College have some budding designers just needing that support to make and sell their designs?
So, I would suggest: closing a small part of the main road next year, pack it with as many stallholders who are willing to come and forget Wilmslow: closing the road to allow locals and visitors to buy 'good stuff' with free parking will spark interest and more people to come to the village.
So easy for me to type, so, so difficult to do but I really hope Sunday gave encouragement.
Thank you for your suggestions and advice, and I do agree the market on Sunday was too spread out.
I did apply to close London Road in August but unfortunately due to various reasons we were not given permission. I wanted to close it from Heyes Lane to The NatWest Bank giving a diversion along Ryleys Lane, Chorley Hall Lane and access to Heyes Lane, but the Council told me it would cost in the region of £3,500 to do this.
The Parish Council were going to sort it out for me but this didn't happen, so the stalls had to be placed on the pavements.
My idea was to bring the market into the village but to include the traders who wanted to be open on the day. I really wanted them to benefit from the increased footfall as well as the farmers and producers. This meant that the stalls could not be placed directly outside a shop which wanted to open.
I also wanted to provide something for everyone, so that was the reason for the Thomas Train, fairground carousels and bouncy castles, giving the children something as well as the market and shops for the grown ups.
We thought the shops did us proud offering glasses of wine and nibbles and lots of additional things, they really joined into the spirit of the day. Portland Wine's mulled wine was really delicious and potent and cheered me up no end halfway through the day when I had already changed my clothes three times because I was so wet!
The stallholders were fantastic, cheerful despite everything, and we have received thanks from them, the shopkeepers, and also customers who braved the rain.
I was too ambitious with my first venture into the village I realise now, but I learn from my mistakes and will try to do a better job next time.
Thank you again for your comments and I will take them on board for the future.
Alderley Edge Parish Council's chairman, Mike Williamson, at Monday's Parish Council meeting:
"It's not a recognised community organisation, it was the Sunday market moved on to the street and they are not local stallholders ....... "
I'm speechless!
I've visited the farmer's market only once, at least 5 years ago, and it felt very much like a place to buy locally grown/reared produce in the way of veg, meat, jam, cakes etc but not much else. The reason I visit Wilmslow Artisan and Treacle Macclesfield every month (both this weekend!) is that there's such wide variety of homewares, crafts, jewellery etc along with all the wonderful food stuffs.
However, I believe that the main attraction is that the market stalls sit side by side within the main shopping areas in both towns so, for example, it's easy to browse the stalls, nip in to the chemist, go back to the stalls, call in at the coffee shop, and so on. Given the cafe culture in Alderley nowadays, it might well be that you have to bring the market to the people and, to avoid road closure, I wonder if it could be situated on the Parade car park?
Just a thought and, as Mike said, very easy to type but very difficult to do ...
Councillor Mike Williamson was quoted in the Wilmslow Express this week as saying: “It’s not a recognised community organisation, it was the Sunday market moved on to the street and they are not local stallholders." and Councillor Mary Mackzowiak said: “I don’t understand how someone can hold an event in the village when it wasn’t a proper community event.”
Christine's Preserves are based in the village, as are Alderley Apiary, The Great North Pie company live just behind London Road and Pure Origin Chocolate are within a mile of the village centre. There are other local producers too. To get the variety you enjoy at Treacle and Wilmslow, producers from further afield than just Alderley Edge need to be brought in, but the council it would seem isn't in favour of this even though the event gave a great boost to the local shops who opened on the day.
How ridiculus but, more worryingly, naïve comments from Councillors. In truth, I wasn't at the meeting so I may have taken these quotes out of context and please correct me if I have missed something fundamental here. But, as an anology, it's like saying The Manchester Christmas Markets shouldn't happen because they are not community events as they predominantly involve Germans!
What nonsense.
Erwecken Sie durch Geruch der Kaffee!