Midsummer Boulevard East – The Market
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- Public Art ↓
- The market today ↓
Introduction
Milton Keynes Market has been a key feature of CMK since establishment in 1979. It retains its original location having expanded over the years and was designed to create a vibrant town centre with accessible retail options. It remains a lively hub for fresh produce, clothing, and various household goods.
Over the years, the market has evolved to reflect changes in shopping habits, expanding its offerings and introducing stalls tailored to the increasingly diverse population of Milton Keynes. It continues to serve as a bustling space for local traders and shoppers alike, contributing to the community-oriented atmosphere of Central Milton Keynes.
For many pioneers, the Market brings up memories of two prominent pubs: The City Duck and The Rose & Castle. These pubs were iconic landmarks and added to the vibrant social life of the market area.
The City Duck was known for its distinctive totem sign, and it became a favourite for marketgoers to grab a pint. Meanwhile, The Rose & Castle was situated right next to the market itself and was renowned for its friendly atmosphere, hearty food, and Tennent’s lager on tap. Both establishments were central to the area’s community spirit from the late 1970s until their closures in the early 2000s.
Public Art
The bronze statue ‘A Mighty Blow for Freedom F**k the Media’ by Michael Sandle stands proud just outside the market. A helmeted figure with a hammer is shown smashing a television screen. The sculpture expresses Sandle’s criticism of ‘the heroic decadence’ of capitalism, in particular its appetite for global conflict.
It is one of three versions in the UK, with the others located in Glasgow and at Usher Gallery London.
The market today
In 2023, the Market had a facelift with MK Gallery, who commissioned community-focused design studio RESOLVE Collective and selected local artists to develop designs for several stall shutters. The artists worked with traders to creatively interpret the stories, knowledge and global connections of those within the market to create original designs which celebrate the value and importance of the market to local communities.
“Up with the birds we come, And chat as we fill baskets with rambutans from Southeast Asia, Cauliflower and saffron and strawberries; Dried fish and shito and mangos as big as your head. The tables groan under weight of cables, And buttons and bits and pieces to fix what’s broken. In amongst the rows of pots and pans, The slippers and shawls and jewels, You will not only find your produce, but your people here – old and new. Nestled between mirrored glass and metal; We make this market, the many, not the few.”
An excerpt from the poem ‘Milton Keynes Market’ by Elsie Roderiques, 2023More highlights
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