Social History / News
Pop-up museum opens to celebrate history of St Nicks Market
A new pop-up exhibition celebrating the history of St Nicks Market has opened.
The curators of the exhibition have been digging around the cellars underneath St Nicks to unearth the history and culture behind the famous site.
Visitors will have the chance to explore vibrant stories from when it was a fruit and flower market and gig venue that played host to the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Who.
is needed now More than ever
St Nicks first began trading in 1743. It is now home to Bristol’s largest collection of independent retailers, boasting an eclectic mix of stalls offering food, fashion, vintage goods and more.
St Nicks pop-up exhibition opens this week showing the history of the site
But the market is not just a hub of commercial activity.
Pete Insole, historic environment officer at Bristol City Council said: “Where a place starts is at a market. It’s not just a place to buy and sell goods, it’s a place to come together for interactions and conversation. It’s an identity.”
“Whenever I come in here I get a sense of that community. And Bristol’s so lucky to have this. We need to come together to celebrate that.”
The exhibition tells the story of St Nicks as a Flower market
The exhibition is designed to be collaborative and visitors are encouraged to contribute to the display by sharing their own stories, experiences and memories of the market.
Designing it in this way will bring to light a tapestry of voices that can explain what the market means to them.
It is hoped that the exhibition will increase footfall into the market which has struggled in recent years.
By bringing people together to share in the celebration of this historic site, Insole hopes the exhibition will reclaim a sense of togetherness and community that suffered throughout the pandemic.
Our Market Story Mini Museum has opened today @stnicksmarket
Come down Mon, Weds or Fri to share your market story and add your memories to the museum pic.twitter.com/lgPQfBY8sn— Pete Insole (@Locallearning) June 6, 2022
The museum is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 11am to 4pm and is located opposite Treasure Islands Sweets within the covered market.
For more information , visit their website or follow them on Twitter.
All photos: Bristol City Council
Read more: In photos: The traders of the M32 Flea Market
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