Tooting Market
Tooting Market is a historic covered market in Tooting, South London, known for independent traders, multicultural food, retail services and community activity.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Tooting Market is an indoor market on Tooting High Street in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It operates close to Tooting Broadway Underground station and forms part of the commercial and social life of Tooting, an area shaped by suburban growth, transport investment and successive waves of migration. The market combines food vendors, retail stalls, tailors, fabric sellers, beauty businesses, service providers and seasonal community activity rather than operating as a conventional single-brand retailer. The present market site opened in October 1930, although the market’s history reaches back to an earlier covered market on Mitcham Road. Its development was connected with the expansion of Tooting during the early twentieth century. The Totterdown Fields estate brought more than 1,200 homes to the area between 1901 and 1911, while tram and Underground connections increased access to local shops. Plans for a covered market were recorded as early as 1916. A major fire destroyed the earlier market in January 1930, after stallholders had already faced uncertainty over the future of the site. The replacement market was developed on land acquired by manufacturing chemist James Evans Powell and opened at the current High Street location on 23 October 1930. The market suffered another serious fire in July 1933. Damage was reported at approximately £20,000 in contemporary accounts, but the premises reopened a few months later. By 1934 it contained 31 stalls, including businesses operated by Jewish families involved in tailoring, fruit and vegetables, and general retail. During the Second World War, traders worked under the conditions of food rationing and controlled distribution. In the post-war period, the market adapted to changing consumer habits, including the growth of self-service retail and discount food shopping. Anthony Jackson’s Food Fare, established in 1956, was one example of this transition. Ownership and management remained associated with the Powell and Boddington families for much of the twentieth century. Following Powell’s death in 1957, ownership passed under his will to his housekeeper Daisy Lilian Boddington. Her grandson Peter Boddington later became involved in management, and the market subsequently passed through the family after the deaths of Daisy, Peter and George Boddington. The property was sold to its current owners in 2010, although the available reference material does not identify those owners by name. Tooting Market’s trader mix broadened over time. Directories from the 1960s and 1980s record key cutting, textiles, tailoring, food, shoes, pet supplies, jewellery, gifts and clothing. Stannards Butchers is identified in local historical material as the market’s longest-serving current trader. The market also has links to notable commercial and cultural figures. Jack Cohen, whose Bargain Centres stall operated in Tooting Market, later founded the Tesco supermarket business. Charlie Watkins began a record and sheet-music operation at the market before establishing Watkins Electric Music, whose amplification equipment became influential in popular music and festival sound. Today, the market is particularly associated with cultural variety. Its food offer has included Mauritian, Guyanese, Japanese, Jamaican, Italian, Lebanese and Portuguese cuisines, alongside other independent businesses. It has hosted music, cultural and community events and has expanded its public-facing activity with a summer street market. Blue plaques installed above both entrances in October 2022 celebrate the area’s multicultural identity and carry the message, “A community of all, for all. We are Tooting.”
History
Tooting Market’s roots lie in the rapid development of Tooting during the early twentieth century. New housing, tram services and the extension of the Underground to Tooting Broadway in 1926 helped create a larger local retail catchment. A covered market was planned by 1916, and an earlier market operated on Mitcham Road before the present site was established. The earlier market was destroyed by fire on 30 January 1930. Stallholders reportedly suffered serious losses, particularly because some had allowed insurance cover to lapse while the site’s future was uncertain. The replacement market was developed on land acquired by James Evans Powell in 1925. Buildings at 21–23 High Street and adjacent cottages in Angel Court were cleared, and the area was covered to create a market entrance and trading space. The new market opened on 23 October 1930. A second large fire struck in July 1933. Despite extensive damage, the market reopened in October. By 1934 it had 31 stalls, with several Jewish family businesses represented among its traders. These included tailoring firms and food retailers. The 1940 directory recorded businesses such as Emanuels, Bargain Centres, Powell’s stalls, Eggee and fishmonger Fred Romaine. During the war, rationing made established local trading relationships especially important because shoppers were required to use ration books and often register with particular retailers. The end of rationing in 1954 brought greater product availability and intensified competition from self-service and discount stores. Anthony Jackson’s Food Fare, which began trading in the market in 1956, reflected the changing retail environment. Victor Value later provided another discount-oriented competitor in the surrounding area. Powell died in 1957, and ownership passed to Daisy Lilian Boddington under his will. Her grandson George Boddington became involved in management, and later generations continued the family connection. Opening hours were extended in 1960 to serve evening shoppers. By the 1980s the market’s offer had expanded beyond traditional groceries and tailoring to include jewellery, gifts, greeting cards and prepared food, while long-established traders such as Emanuel, Pater Textiles, Brafman, Eggee, Express Key Cutting, O’Grady’s and Garfield’s remained recorded in directories. Stannards Butchers is associated with the market’s continuing trading history. The market also became linked to individuals whose later careers extended beyond Tooting. Jack Cohen traded through Bargain Centres before founding Tesco. Charlie Watkins began a record stall and mail-order sheet-music business in 1949, later founding Watkins Electric Music, a significant supplier of amplification equipment. The Boddington family’s ownership period ended after the deaths of key family members and the sale of the market in 2010. The current market contains independent food, retail, tailoring, beauty and service businesses, with cuisines reflecting Tooting’s international population. It also functions as an event venue, hosting music, cultural and community programming and a summer street market. In October 2022, blue plaques at both entrances publicly marked its multicultural and civic identity.
- 2022
Community blue plaques installed
[1]Plaques above both entrances celebrated the market’s multicultural community role.
- 2010
Market sold to new owners
[1]The long-running Boddington family ownership ended when the market was sold.
- 1960
Late opening hours introduced
[1]The market extended its Friday trading hours to serve evening shoppers.
- 1957
Ownership passes to Daisy Boddington
[1]After Powell’s death, ownership passed under his will to Daisy Lilian Boddington.
- 1956
Food Fare begins trading
[1]Anthony Jackson’s Food Fare opened as the market adapted to post-rationing retail competition.
- 1933
Market reopens after major fire
[1]Following a serious July fire, Tooting Market resumed trading in October.
- 1930
Current market opens
[1]The rebuilt covered market opened on Tooting High Street on 23 October.
- 1925
James Evans Powell acquires the future market site
[1]Powell acquired the freehold of 23 High Street and adjoining cottages around Angel Court, enabling redevelopment of the present site.
- 1916
Plans for a covered market recorded
[1]An application to the London County Council architects’ department documented plans for a covered Tooting market.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood indoor market positioned around independent trading, affordable everyday retail, multicultural food and community participation.
Food and beverage
Multicultural food and drink
Independent vendors serve prepared food and drinks representing the area’s diverse population. Historical and contemporary descriptions associate the market with Mauritian, Guyanese, Japanese, Jamaican, Italian, Lebanese and Portuguese cuisines, among others.
Clothing and fabrics
Tailoring and textiles
Tailors, outfitters and fabric sellers have been part of the market since at least the 1930s. The category reflects the market’s long-standing role in practical clothing services, alterations and textile retail.
Food retail
Fresh food and groceries
The market has historically included greengrocers, fishmongers, butchers and general food stalls. Emanuels operated a fruit and vegetable stall for more than five decades, while Stannards Butchers is associated with the market’s continuing food-trade history.
Services
Personal and household services
Service businesses have included key cutting, hair and beauty salons, cleaning and dyeing, pet supplies and other neighborhood-oriented services. These businesses complement the market’s retail and food offer.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Community identity blue plaques
Tooting · Wandsworth
Blue plaques were placed above both entrances to recognize Tooting’s multicultural community and the market’s inclusive civic identity.
Outcome. The plaques became a permanent public marker of the market’s local heritage and community role.
- Summer street market
Tooting
The market has extended beyond its indoor premises through seasonal summer street-market activity and related cultural programming.
Outcome. The activity broadened the market’s public presence and supported its role as a community and events venue.
Brand decisions
2010
Change ownershipM&ABackground
The market had remained associated with the Powell and Boddington families for much of its history.
Action taken
The property was sold to new owners.
Aftermath
The market continued operating with independent traders and a broader multicultural food, retail and community offer.
1956
Introduce discount-oriented food retailStrategyBackground
The end of rationing and the rise of self-service and cut-price grocery retail changed competition for local markets.
Action taken
Anthony Jackson opened the Food Fare stall in Tooting Market.
Aftermath
The market retained food retail while adapting its offer to new post-war shopping patterns.
1930
Rebuild and relocate the covered marketStrategyBackground
The earlier market had been destroyed by fire, while the previous site faced redevelopment pressure and uncertainty.
Action taken
A new covered market was developed around Angel Court and opened on the High Street.
Aftermath
The new site became the enduring home of Tooting Market and remains in operation.
Sources1 sources
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