Thursday 5 January 2012

A.W. Gamage - The Sports House of the World

Once upon a time in Arcadia and most notably on a Thursday, ladies and gentlemen suffering from cabin fever and post Christmas restlessness would find themselves walking along Holborn in the district of E.C.1 to the department store known to the world as 'Gamages'.  There, in the fishing tackle department they would be able to make their first cast of the year in the rod demonstration area and begin to plan the months ahead in earnest.

Today, if you walk down Holborn, and not just on a Thursday, you will be disappointed for Gamages was knocked down in the decade known as the 1970's and you will struggle to find a department store with a rod demonstration area in any district let alone E.C.1.  However, on Thursdays, including today, you may visit me at my stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market, just down the road in E1, where there is plenty of room to demonstrate rods and other items of Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  The months ahead may also be planned over a cup of famed market tea.