Sunday 24 March 2013

NORTHERN EXPOSURE



Strictly speaking Middlesbrough is in North Yorkshire but it never was genteel. It has no green hills punctuated by picturesque farms and ruined abbeys. It's in gritty Teesside and was once a clanging, puddling, flaming, smoking Ironopolis. Now it awaits its re-birth.


This is where we parked for today's antiques fair! It's a brave new world where  spectacular old technology blends well with new art and stark wastelands, willing regeneration to hurry up and happen.


The Tees Transporter Bridge, opened in 1911.


The venue is Middlesbrough College and the fair is an exciting new Colin Caygill Event
                                                       

It is held in a long corridor, recreating the atmosphere of a street market.


The stands fill up...




...here's Julie from The Cloth Shed blog.

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And here's news of more vintage fun in the North East.


This event is held at nearby Saltburn by the Sea - pictures can be found here. So please come up sometime - I promise we don't bite (except when we're hungry).



(Saltburn also has fantastic Yarn Bombers!)

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14 comments:

  1. come oooop north? but its cooooooooooooooooooooold up there!!!!!

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    1. Just a little warmer today - once the sun came up. A shame we were out on the road by 5.30 am.!

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  2. Brilliant post Nilly. I can hear the clogs on cobbles in the first picture. Love the knitty royals and nudist :)
    Jean xx

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    1. Saltburn knitters are very talented, aren't they - and the little town is lovely too.

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  3. Middlesborough is one of those places as you pass through it looks pretty grim especially the grey concrete section of motorway. It does have a fantastic college (maybe biased a bit) Middlesborough Campus (amazing learning resource centre)and what a fantastic place to have a fair. I scrolled down your post and knew it was Julie's stall before I read your words under it. Oooooh those doors! Did you get anything interesting Nilly. You really were up north - maybe one day just a little bit further! I have to agree with ted and bunny it is freezing cold up north and boy does the wind blow. Jayne x

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    1. The wind on one side of the college nearly flattened me as I scouted round for interesting views. Yes, it's a strange, bleak townscape but we'll go back and take more photos - besides which, the MIMA gallery is great & it's ages since we last visited.

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  4. Nilly, Thank you for your lovely blog post.... It was indeed freezing and brass monkey weather outside but warm and toasty inside. Great College layout...."The Street" and good cafe prices too.
    Hope your purchase from me proves successful.....
    Julie x

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    1. The mug is for my best friend who is from county Durham - my theme for her birthday present is The North East!

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  5. What a wonderful market venue! I'm quite envious - it's the sort of place I'd love to sell my chocolates. Thanks for sharing...though yet again you've made wish I could live in two places at the same time. Axxx

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    1. I think Mr N would choose Spain over his home county Yorkshire any day, especially after this awful winter!

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  6. ~ Ooh tis a little chilly up North...But we are the nicest of peeps here....LOVE this type of 'Street' market.....And I would love to come...YOU never know!I am going back for another peek....With kindest thoughts...Maria x Brrrr keep cosy!

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    1. I wonder if you ever visit any of Caygill's fairs over in Cumbria? They are very good, with plenty of vintage treasures.

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  7. Great post Nilly..see you "oop North" next week in the chilly Textile tent??

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    1. I missed you this time Lizzie! Wasn't that wind terrible? But the buying & selling was great for us - hope it was for you!

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