‘E17 Market Stories’ is a free outdoor photography exhibition celebrating the historic Walthamstow Market, giving people an insight into the lives of the diverse community of market traders.
Featuring a trail of large format photography on prominent buildings along Walthamstow High Street, the exhibition showcases trader’s portraits and market scene photography by Lloyd Ramos, a local photographer who grew up on the market.
In addition to the photography there are QR Codes placed on nearby lampposts linking to videos online by Waltham Forest filmmaker Ashton John (Home Project: Walthamstow) which documents the individual stories of 11 featured ‘hero traders’. These colourful and often eccentric personalities give an insight into market life through the telling of personal, sincere, and emotive stories.
Walthamstow Market started in 1885 and is hailed as Europe’s longest outdoor street market, spanning a kilometre of the High Street, with many of the traders having families that have traded on the market for generations. Markets have traditionally been the heartbeat of Town Centres, but with so many technological, economic, environmental, and social challenges, markets across the UK are having adapt for their very survival.
Having an exhibition on the market, in the market is a great way for visitors to immerse themselves within the exhibition, giving an opportunity to experience the market in real life, and even meet and chat to those featured in the exhibition. Some might even learn the forgotten art of ‘the haggle’ and pick up a bargain as a souvenir.
As well as stalls selling food, clothes, household goods, homemade jewellery, and all sorts of interesting products, you’ll find cafes offering cuisine from around the world, its famous variety of haberdashery shops, and an eclectic mix of independent shops. You can even grab a book commemorating the exhibition for only £4 from Milagrosa, 148-146 High Street, E17 7JS.
Below is a map and location list to aid you on your trail. For the best experience we recommend using headphones with your mobile phone. You must have internet on your mobile to access the videos via the QR codes. If for some reason you can not locate the QR codes or technology is not cooperating, you can just type e17.tv/[name of trader] into your browser. For example e17.tv/andrzej.
Locations of portraits with accompanying videos:
- Andrzej’s portrait is located at Nando’s, 261 High Street, 1 The Scene, E17 7FD. The video QR link is located under the Nando’s sign on Cleveland Road or unnumbered lamppost outside Jennings Bet, 208 High Street, E17 7JH
- Larry’s portrait is located at CK Pots & Pans, 219 High Street, E17 7BH. The video QR link is located on lamppost number 13 on the High Street.
- Derrick’s portrait is located at Lloyds Bank, 180-182 High Street, E17 7BX. The video QR link is on lamppost number 16 on the High Street.
- Carole’s portrait is located at Nadeem Bedding, 157 High Street, E17 7BX. The video QR link is on lamppost number 41 and 42 on the High Street.
- Leigh’s portrait is located at Paddy Power, 145a High Street, E17 7BX. The video QR link is on lamppost number 47 and 48 on the High Street.
- Anne’s portrait is located at The Chequers, 145 High Street, E17 7BX. The video QR link is on lamppost number 49 on the High Street.
- Alan’s portrait is located at Femme Connection, 112b High Street, E17 7JY. The video QR link is on lamppost number 57 on the High Street.
- Joseph’s portrait is located at Sainsbury’s, 112 High Street, E17 7JY. The video QR link is on lamppost number 58 and 59 on the High Street.
- Shah’s portrait is located at Italgold Jewellery, 65b High Street, E17 7AD. The video QR link is on lamppost number 88 and 89 on the High Street.
- Jacob’s portrait is located at Romax, 34 High Street, E17 7LD. The video QR link is on lamppost number 95 on the High Street.
- Kinga’s portrait is located at International Supermarket, 7-17 High Street, E17 7AB. The video QR link is on lamppost number 101.
Further portraits and scenery photography (without video links) can also be found in the following places.
- Poundland, 259 High Street, E17 7BH, on the Cleveland Road side of the building.
- Metropolitan Police Sub-station, 191-193 High Street, E17 7BX.
- Sainsbury’s, 112 High Street, E17 7JY on the Willow Walk side of the building.
- Sam 99p Store, 60 High Street, E17 7LD.
- Five£World, 52 High Street, E17 7LD.
Enjoy the exhibition and share the love #E17MarketStories