ALFRED Hitchcock makes a fleeting appearance in his lesser known Glasgow film Dial T for Turnip. Well, I wish it was. It is in fact a stallholder at Glasgow's fruitmarket when it was in the Merchant City in 1964.
Traffic problems in such a central spot made the market untenable, and after plans by the Corporation to move it just a short distance to Gallowgate, it was decided, with the potential of the new motorway, that it should go to Blochairn.
We find a report in the Herald in 1964 of a planning inquiry when Glasgow Corporation's planning committee was accused of "complete and hopeless inconsistency". That wouldn't happen nowadays of course. Ahem.
The Merchant City area had a string of markets, covering fruit, vegetables and cheese. The largest area is now the Merchant Square, a lively spot of bars and restaurants. The smaller Old Fruitmarket is a great atmospheric performance space, with the advertising hoardings of the original dealers still in place.
Blochairn is far larger - a 32 acre site handling 2m tonnes a year.
Our man here though is sitting on an upturned crate, watching the world go by as he hopes to shift a few turnips and cauliflowers. Simpler times.
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