…not riotous behaviour. At the end of a difficult week in the UK, it's at times like these that you really appreciate living in a small town, a small community. Young people argue that nothing goes on here. It seems to me that this is a blessing. It means we are more or less immune from some of the obvious problems of urban Britain. Not that everything is rosy. It isn't, drugs being one scourge that brings us back to reality when we start to feel smug. But, overall, Rhuthun/Ruthin is a stable community with an atmosphere, an awyrgylch if you will, of pleasant affability and toleration.
And what better way to celebrate this fact than with the reintroduction yesterday of the produce market. Yesterday, we saw a market town with a proper outdoor market in the proper place for it.
It's interesting that the produce market's press release calls the location the Market Square. It's worth remembering that this older name has been around a lot longer than the newer St Peter's Square.
It's not a market selling cheap tat but one that tries to set itself apart from the everyday. Now at the top of town, it brought with it a little vigour, a little dynamism, a little vitality (plus a little blush of colour). And not just to St Peter's Square but to the upper parts of Well Street and Clwyd Street. It was almost riotous in the boisterous sense, for the town hasn't felt this busy for some time. Everyone to whom I spoke was pleased to see the produce market occupying its new home.
We mustn't forget that when the produce market started it occupied part of St Peter's Square and the entire gaol precinct. Latterly, we’ve seen it shrink to the point where it's felt a little uncomfortable in the vast expanse of the old gaol, as if it were a small child wearing oversized adult clothes. Now, the market fits snuggly on the Square. As customers ringed the stalls, they hugged the market tightly because of the road behind them. This adds to the feeling that there are more people milling around and enjoying themselves.
Present were a dozen or so stalls selling a range of goods from pastries, chocolates, preserves and meats to crafts, plants, cards and soaps. Perhaps not quite the breadth we used to have but when you add this to the choice of independent shops in the heart of the town it adds considerably to our appeal.
Market Street car park was full for the occasion, others less so. It might be that cheaper parking everywhere in town has been responsible for a migration to Market Street. Dog Lane held just 20 vehicles; the front part of Crispin Yard was full but the rear had just a dozen or so; and the recently "extended" Park Road housed cars numbering in the mid-thirties. There was a solitary car in Troed y Rhiw.
It wasn't just the town that was busy. Cars were queuing off Lôn Parcwr and within Tesco car park. Even at the time of the produce market, people were flocking to Tesco. Let's hope that the Tesco patrons contributed to the crowds in town, too.
Tesco@5. Meanwhile, Tesco has abandoned the pretence of stocking "local" produce. Those who've been reading this blog since its start will recall, upon Tesco's opening, that it trumpeted Welsh produce (from all of Wales, whether local or not). Long gone are the green ceiling banners proclaiming Welsh produce. Long gone are the leaflets shouting about Welsh stock.
And what better way to celebrate this fact than with the reintroduction yesterday of the produce market. Yesterday, we saw a market town with a proper outdoor market in the proper place for it.
It's interesting that the produce market's press release calls the location the Market Square. It's worth remembering that this older name has been around a lot longer than the newer St Peter's Square.
It's not a market selling cheap tat but one that tries to set itself apart from the everyday. Now at the top of town, it brought with it a little vigour, a little dynamism, a little vitality (plus a little blush of colour). And not just to St Peter's Square but to the upper parts of Well Street and Clwyd Street. It was almost riotous in the boisterous sense, for the town hasn't felt this busy for some time. Everyone to whom I spoke was pleased to see the produce market occupying its new home.We mustn't forget that when the produce market started it occupied part of St Peter's Square and the entire gaol precinct. Latterly, we’ve seen it shrink to the point where it's felt a little uncomfortable in the vast expanse of the old gaol, as if it were a small child wearing oversized adult clothes. Now, the market fits snuggly on the Square. As customers ringed the stalls, they hugged the market tightly because of the road behind them. This adds to the feeling that there are more people milling around and enjoying themselves.
Present were a dozen or so stalls selling a range of goods from pastries, chocolates, preserves and meats to crafts, plants, cards and soaps. Perhaps not quite the breadth we used to have but when you add this to the choice of independent shops in the heart of the town it adds considerably to our appeal.
Market Street car park was full for the occasion, others less so. It might be that cheaper parking everywhere in town has been responsible for a migration to Market Street. Dog Lane held just 20 vehicles; the front part of Crispin Yard was full but the rear had just a dozen or so; and the recently "extended" Park Road housed cars numbering in the mid-thirties. There was a solitary car in Troed y Rhiw.
It wasn't just the town that was busy. Cars were queuing off Lôn Parcwr and within Tesco car park. Even at the time of the produce market, people were flocking to Tesco. Let's hope that the Tesco patrons contributed to the crowds in town, too.
Tesco@5. Meanwhile, Tesco has abandoned the pretence of stocking "local" produce. Those who've been reading this blog since its start will recall, upon Tesco's opening, that it trumpeted Welsh produce (from all of Wales, whether local or not). Long gone are the green ceiling banners proclaiming Welsh produce. Long gone are the leaflets shouting about Welsh stock.