Eaton & Deller, 6 Crooked Lane, London

Once upon a time in Arcadia, most notably on a Thursday at the very beginning of the last century and as long ago as the one before, ladies and gentlemen in need of fishing tackle and in particular with a desire for Bright Crystal Size 10's to Best Drawn Gut would make their way along windswept January streets to the place known as Crooked Lane which was situated close to London Bridge.  There, at No. 6 they would find the premises of Eaton & Deller a celebrated seller of fishing tackle.

Once upon a time in Arcadia, most notably today, being the last Thursday in January in the year of our Lord and curses 2013 if you are a lady or a gentleman within the bounds of the city the choice of where to buy your fishing tackle is limited as so many shops have closed down.  In some cases, as is the case with Crooked Lane, entire streets have vanished along with their shops.  Following reports in the press there are rumours circulating that Old Spitalfields Market may be sold and that the market here and subsequently my stall selling Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul and the other 75 that make up the Thursday Antiques and Collectables Market may also vanish along with the market space.  It is not known whether these rumours will come to anything and in the meantime I shall continue to trade on Thursdays as I have done for over 8 years at Spitalfields, between the hours of 8am and 3pm in the solemn memory of Eaton and Deller and the many hundreds of shops like them which have long since passed.   Should you be a lady or gentleman in the vicinity of the market on a Thursday, you are invited to show your support for the market space by calling in and marvelling at the wonders that dwell under its vast iron and glass roof.  Thank-you.