An amateur film made by John Dawson recording formal celebrations taking place as part of the 150th anniversary of the Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne during October 1985. The film opens on the coat-of-arms (crest) for the city of Newcastle. Title: City of Newcastle upon Tyne Title: 150 Years of the Grainger Market 1835-1985 A photo montage follows showing the history of the market over Symphony No. 6 by Beethoven. A double decker bus comes along Market Street into Grainger...

An amateur film made by John Dawson recording formal celebrations taking place as part of the 150th anniversary of the Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne during October 1985. The film opens on the coat-of-arms (crest) for the city of Newcastle. Title: City of Newcastle upon Tyne Title: 150 Years of the Grainger Market 1835-1985 A photo montage follows showing the history of the market over Symphony No. 6 by Beethoven. A double decker bus comes along Market Street into Grainger Street. Pedestrians and shoppers walk along Grainger Street, a young woman crosses the road and goes inside the market. Shoppers walk past or go inside the market from other entrances along Nelson Street near to The Blackett Arms public house and Clayton Street near The Black Garter pub. Title: The Lord Mayors Parade Photo montage showing a decorative float on which stand a number of men and women dressed in Victorian costumes. A banner along the bottom of the lorry reads ‘150 Years of the Grainger Market 1835-1985’. Those on-board pose for a photograph outside the Newcastle Civic Centre. Title: The Central Library Exhibition Inside a gallery space, part of Newcastle Central Library, a group of school children and other invited guests listen as a man introduces Councillor Mrs Margaret Collins, Chairman of the Land and Property Committee. She gives a speech both about the new exhibition space but also the various artworks on display to do with Grainger Market produced by local school children as part of a local schools competition. After her speech she presents award to a number of winning children before posing for official photograph alongside other guests. General views follow showing various works of art on display and people walking around. Title: Unveiling of the Anniversary Plaque Inside the Grainger Market a man speaks into a microphone introducing Mrs Collins. She makes a speech about the history and importance of the market on Tyneside after which she unveils an official plaque marking the 150th anniversary. She is presented with a bouquet and poses for photographs beside the brass plaque. Inside the print room of ‘The Journal’ newspaper a special edition relating to the anniversary of the market rolls through the printing press. A man checks the machine while another flicks through a copy checking for errors. Title: The Best Dressed Stall Competition A stall holder and staff wearing traditional 19th century costumes serve customers inside the market. The men working at a butcher’s stall all wear fake moustaches, a woman working at Marks & Spencer’s wears a long dress with bonnet. A number of women in 19th century style dresses pose for the camera beside their colourful flower stall. At another butchers stall game birds and rabbits hang down from above, a woman uses a cleaver to chop some meat. The men working at W.E. Foreman and Sons butchers, all wear bowler hats and dark waistcoats. Staff at G. Leslie Oliver, another butchers, work to serve their customers. Three women pose beside at a colourful display of flowers at Kathrine’s florist stall. A man wearing a morning suit stands beside another dressed as a member of the Household Cavalry, in between them a woman in a blue dress. General views follow of a number of stalls around the market, some decorated with bunting and Union Jacks hanging across them, as people go about their normal shopping. Mrs Collins chats with a number of people and poses for photographs with several stall holders. She presents a trophy to a man dressed in a business suit and bowler hat beside R.A. Dodd’s the butchers. They pose together for photos with the trophy, the sequence ends on a plaque on the wall about Dodd’s. Title: The Banquet Title: On Thursday 22nd October 1835 a banquet was held in the Grainger market to celebrate the forthcoming opening of the market on the following Saturday 24th October 1835. Tonight a banquet is again being held in the market, this time to celebrate the occasion of its 150th anniversary. Many changes have been seen in Newcastle during the last 150 years including changes in people’s shopping habits and it is a tribute to the council and to the business men who trade in the market that we are able to meet tonight to celebrate this milestone in the history of the Grainger Market. The film shows both the menu for the night’s banquet as well as a list of Guests of Honours. Inside the market hall a long table has been set for the banquet. Guests arrive, including Mrs Collins, and they stand around chatting over drinks. Some of the guests arrive in the 19th century costumes seen previously and pose for photographs. The Master of Ceremonies introduces the Lord Mayor, Mrs Collins and others guests and they take their places at the banqueting table. On a smaller table in front of them is a decorated cake dedicated to the market's anniversary. The guests enjoy their meals chatting or listening to The Wearside Barbershop Harmony Club performing for their entertainment. The Master of Ceremonies introduces Mrs Collins who raises a toast to the Queen. She them gives a speech about the anniversary and history of the market and ends by giving a toast to all the traders. Other speeches are given including one by The Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Councillor R.C. Burgees who ends by raising a toast to the city. A presentation is made by Donald Robinson of W. Colemen & Sons Ltd on behalf of all the traders to Mrs Collins of a silver ashtray as thanks for all the help she has been. She is also presented with a bouquet. The film changes to the following morning and the presentation of the anniversary cake seen previously to Miss Hall of the Children’s Department of Newcastle General Hospital. The film ends with Miss Hall explaining that the cake would be served to the children that afternoon.