The Level was the site for many market sellers at the start of the 20th century.

‘After a while they shifted us out of Oxford Street- I don’t know if there were any complaints or what. Anyway they found us a place on the Level, in Oxford Street,  you more or less took your own pitches. You didn’t argue about it, you just pitched there every day- same on the Level. We had an association – if you can call it that. Some used to go through the street selling fish in barrows – they weren’t barrow boys, they were classed as hawkers. Sunday morning they’d come round with herrings, shouting out. When the markets came, there weren’t many of them left. We were tied – we just stood there. We weren’t supposed to shout out our wares. We were better off than the hawkers, we used to be all day there, didn’t we? People came through there. We sold all kinds, see.’

Turn left and cross over Francis Street and on your left, you will see the entrance to the Open Market the final stop.