Page 37 - Market Times October 2024

FEATURE • ALNWICK
These days Alnwick Mar- ket is a picture of health and vitality, with a full contingent of gazebos filling its traditional home, the me- dieval market square at the heart of this ancient Northum- berland town.
The number of market days has increased from two to four in the summer and footfall is plentiful, with an ever- increasing number of tourists attracted by the burgeoning number of stalls and the eclectic mix of crafts, gifts, fashion and goodies.
Yet it wasn’t always so. It’s hard to believe but just a year ago the market was on the verge of collapse after the large, private operator that had the lease announced that it was shutting up shop from October.
The traders, whose numbers had dwindled to around 14,
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Tracey Sprigg has saved Alnwick market from decline and transformed it into a thriving concern and a growing tourist attraction
years ago to run a bed and breakfast. “I fell in love with Alnwick but I noticed there wasn’t a lot of marketing to promote local businesses,” she said.
So Tracey began some marketing herself and as a
labour of love she produced leaflets and launched a Facebook page called All About Alnwick eight years ago to encourage more people to visit the town and patronise its shops, eateries and to visit the market. She is also a
were devastated. Many relied on the three months running up to Christmas to boost their incomes.
Fortunately, a community- minded Alnwick woman was not prepared to sit back and let the market die.
Tracey Sprigg stepped up to the plate and persuaded Northumberland County Council to allow the stallholders to trade in Northumberland Hall on Market Place in the run-up to Christmas.
The relocation proved a success, and that convinced the Duke of Northumberland Estate, which holds the charter, to offer her a year-long lease to run the market from April to this December, its traditional trading months.
Tracey hails from Whitley Bay and arrived in Alnwick 17
Alnwick is famous for its castle, home to the 12th Duke of Cumberland who holds the ancient market charter, and as the fictional Hogwarts in the popular Harry Potter films
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