At 10 o’clock this morning, as the Granby 4 Streets Market opened, the rain stopped. Sometimes that’s just how it is for the righteous of this earth.
And it was a great day for the last summer Street Market of this year.
Homebaked from Anfield came.
First time at the Street Market.
Not, we trust, the last.
And there were builders around.
Because of course the 4 Streets are on site now.
First time here for Friends of the Earth too.
And here? Modern life in action.
A photographer takes a photograph of a photographer taking a photograph of a film maker filming. And I take a photograph – of all of them.
But today wasn’t all about me taking smart-arsed photographs. Now the place is on site serious work was going on too.
Architect Marianne Heaslip of Urbed explaining the plans she’s drawn up for the co-op she’s involved with here.
Doing up the houses just behind her.
Going in for Planning Approval this week.
And talking with Mia from Homebaked.
Marianne did the architectural work on Homebaked’s bakery in Anfield.
Liverpool Mutual Homes were here too.
They’re now working on 2 of the 4 Streets – Cairns Street and Jermyn Street.
But it wasn’t all work. Here’s local company ‘What Goes On’ with things to say about design, fair trade and play.
Oh yes.
All day the street buzzed with the sounds of playing.
Children and adults together.
And the sounds of music too, off the back of a truck.
Mike Badger channeling the spirit of Johnny Cash.
And others whose names I didn’t catch (if anyone did I’ll happily amend the post).
Entertaining us all day.
A balmy, late summer’s day.
In Cairns Street, Liverpool 8.
All feeling happy and at home.
Thinking of others whose homeland is under attack.
While the houses here dream of a future that has now, somewhat unexpectedly, arrived.
Sometimes good things can happen.
During the day I talked with Ann O’Byrne, Cabinet Member for Housing on Liverpool City Council. Ann’s a regular visitor to the Street Markets, and we discussed the challenges now being dealt with in doing up the 4 Street’s houses, but how delighted we all are that it’s happening.
And here is Ann, with some of the LMH people at the Street Market.
And with Gemma Jerome, one of the Street Market organisers.
Yes, holding Granby 4 Streets Community Land Trust leaflets. Well done both!
So a real feeling of partnership going on here now. (And in the spirit of this partnership I confess I didn’t take these last 2 photos, but whizzed them off Twitter. I think someone from LMH probably took them – I can’t be everywhere!)
But talking of the Street Market’s organisers – events like this don’t just happen. So well done for the summer’s work Theresa, Joe, Rosa, Jimi, Gemma, Matt and everyone else who’s helped. Stall holders and musicians too. Because they’ve been happening for over four years now it would be easy to take the 4 Streets Markets for granted. But they have been, and continue to be, a core part of what is happening here. The rebirth of one of Liverpool’s most special places.
Well done Gemma and Theresa.
And well done Joe. Or is it Jimi Hendrix?
I believe there will be a Street Market at Christmas. By which time much work will have happened in the neighbourhood.
For now, well done all. Of the people, by the people, for the people.
We would not of been aware of the event but for your earlier post, so thanks. Whilst the market was not as extensive as expected it was interesting to browse the stalls & look at the progess they are making in the Granby area. Bought our first loaf from Homebaked, which reminded me of that from a baker called Furnivals bought in my younger days (shops in Bootle & Litherland from memory?). My wife came home with a scarf, so we were both pleased to be able to support local enterprise in our small way.
I have read this post very thoroughly – something I must confess to not having done with many of your recent posts – and have been reminded of why I became interested in your blog in the first place: an intimate view of a very special place full of lovely people building their community with imagination and love. It is full of colour and hope. Well done Ronnie and everybody in Granby.
Thanks Stephen, as you’ve clearly picked up we’re all very happy about the works finally starting, though there are the expected site difficulties to be dealt with.
By the way, how did the street acquire its name? Was it something to do with the Marquis of Granby?
Don’t actually know Stephen. A lot of Liverpool streets and places are named after London streets, as we were going around being ‘second city of Empire’ and all that.