The History of Camden Market and The Stables Market

August 21, 2017

Camden Market

You'll be well aware of how much we cherish Camden here at Camden Watch Co., and how fascinated we are by it’s captivating history and heritage. So we thought we’d share with you some of Camden Market’s history, introducing its great industrial heritage, in the hope that you’ll find it as interesting as we do. 

Way before Camden Market became one of the most famous markets in the world, and even before it became a market at all, the whole area was an industrial site, including many a distillery. In fact, in the 19th Century, Camden was known as the hometown of some of the world’s finest gin.

 It wasn’t until 1974, on the brink of demolition, that Camden welcomed its first traders. 

 Camden Lock Market

Before Camden Market became home to thousands of stalls, it started by just 16 of them selling jewellery, antiques and crafts. Situated in the heart of Camden Town, alongside Regent’s Canal, it is a colourful community composed of diverse street food traders and independent stores. So it will come as no surprise that every year this vibrant market attracts millions of people from all over the globe.

The Stables Market

Don’t you just love wandering around and inside Camden’s Stables Market, getting lost in the maze of tunnels and arches. And who hasn’t tried at least once to climb on top of those big bronze horses? No? Just us? Moving on…

Did you ever wonder why there are quite so many horses? Well allow us to enlighten you. 

In the early 20th century, the borough of Camden was a hub for goods from all over the British empire, with Kings’s Cross railway station next door and Regent’s canal alongside, the area was crammed with industrial and railway activity. And it was horses that were used to pull the train parts and goods along Regent’s Canal and to the storage yards in Camden.

The Stables Market was not only a network of artisan saddlers and horse stables, but it also encompassed a horse hospital where sick or tired horses could go to rest, in fact, in 1939 alone more than 800 horses went through the gates of the hospital.

Picture from Camden Railway Heritage Trust

This is why we decided to create a watch that would commemorate this incredible place, our Horse Hospital Special Edition.

 So next time you are in the market, don’t be shy and come say hi, we would be more than happy to share some more fascinating stories with you. 

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