Borough Market
I still feel at home here.
My first job in London more than 50 years ago was at Tooley St. Then a commercial area with docks and I worked in a warehouse that unpacked NZ Butter from 56 lb boxes. Strong arm work. The butter was minced salt added and wrapped in 1 lb packs.
I worked with “foreigners “ for the first time. They were from Cyprus both side of a divided nation and the racicsm was between them, the two sides of a divided country.
Then I later worked at The Anchor on Bankside again by the market. The pub had a lot of history in several incarnations. Apparently owned by the Bishop who is reputed to have “smuggled” escapees from the Clink (in what is now Clink St) into the sewer and into the Thames. Once on the other side the Southwark Sherrif had no jurisdiction.
Much later Dr Johnson was apparently under the romantic influence of Mrs Thrale.
I doubt that romance was the source of the expression to be “enthralled”but fun to contemplate.
My highlights were much different as Princess Margaret as she then was came to dine and the then First Lord if the Admiralty took “ lunch and half a pint” while the car park was piled full of chauffeurs and RR’s.
I really was a two bobber then, but the world was less complicated.
So I came to the “borough” not because in nearby Southwark Cathedral are tombs bearing names of a family that I doubt I was downstream of but it used to be a good place for a Porter and a cheap eat. Not now. Jam packed with every race in the world with barmaids that think a porter is a bloke with a trolley and a piece of fish costs £10 in a takeaway box.
So I chose another stall and the jellied eels. I was the winner !
Then to a place that was here when I worked tound the corner Wright Brothers probably named after the aviators but serve a jolly decent fish soup and a bottle of Porter.
I remember the waitress with the green hair from last year when I preferred the oysters.
Now I will go next door for a pastry which is a rare treat and a wonderful coffee.
My first job in London more than 50 years ago was at Tooley St. Then a commercial area with docks and I worked in a warehouse that unpacked NZ Butter from 56 lb boxes. Strong arm work. The butter was minced salt added and wrapped in 1 lb packs.
I worked with “foreigners “ for the first time. They were from Cyprus both side of a divided nation and the racicsm was between them, the two sides of a divided country.
Then I later worked at The Anchor on Bankside again by the market. The pub had a lot of history in several incarnations. Apparently owned by the Bishop who is reputed to have “smuggled” escapees from the Clink (in what is now Clink St) into the sewer and into the Thames. Once on the other side the Southwark Sherrif had no jurisdiction.
Much later Dr Johnson was apparently under the romantic influence of Mrs Thrale.
I doubt that romance was the source of the expression to be “enthralled”but fun to contemplate.
My highlights were much different as Princess Margaret as she then was came to dine and the then First Lord if the Admiralty took “ lunch and half a pint” while the car park was piled full of chauffeurs and RR’s.
I really was a two bobber then, but the world was less complicated.
So I came to the “borough” not because in nearby Southwark Cathedral are tombs bearing names of a family that I doubt I was downstream of but it used to be a good place for a Porter and a cheap eat. Not now. Jam packed with every race in the world with barmaids that think a porter is a bloke with a trolley and a piece of fish costs £10 in a takeaway box.
So I chose another stall and the jellied eels. I was the winner !
Then to a place that was here when I worked tound the corner Wright Brothers probably named after the aviators but serve a jolly decent fish soup and a bottle of Porter.
I remember the waitress with the green hair from last year when I preferred the oysters.
Now I will go next door for a pastry which is a rare treat and a wonderful coffee.
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