Here and Now - Acle Market

The rise of the supermarket in the 1970s put paid to many a small market town like Acle, in Norfolk but in this short feature we take a look at this vibrant community. They trade in just about everything there is to trade, barter of buy. Fruit, livestock, clothes and junk of all shapes and sizes come under the eyes of the bargain-hunters, the dealers and the auctioneers who seem to have them in the back of their heads. It’s peppered with characterful interviews from buyers and sellers alike though maybe what’s most engaging about these it watching the assembled crowd who are clearly far more interested in being caught on camera than that are in any of the conversations taking place. Just about all the men wear a tie and a flat cap, there isn’t a seat word to be heard and it’s an interesting retrospective on something that we may well see a resurgence of.

The rise of the supermarket in the 1970s put paid to many a small market town like Acle, in Norfolk, but in this short feature we take a look at how this vibrant community thrived in the mid 1960s. They trade in just about everything there is to trade, barter or buy. Fruit, livestock, clothes and junk of all shapes and sizes come under the eyes of the bargain-hunters, the dealers and the auctioneers who seem to have them in the back of their heads. It’s peppered with characterful interviews from buyers and sellers alike though maybe what’s most engaging about these is watching the assembled crowd who are clearly far more interested in being caught on camera than they are in any of the conversations taking place. Just about all the men wear a tie and a flat cap, there isn’t a swear word to be heard and it’s an interesting retrospective on something that we may well see a resurgence of as attitudes come full circle.